Senior educators appointed Sinda and Mendaki chiefs

TWO ethnic self-help groups have appointed senior educators as their new chiefs.

Veteran teacher T. Rajasegar will lead the Singapore Indian Development Association (Sinda) from December, while former principal Moliah Hashim will head Mendaki when the new year starts, said the organisations in separate statements yesterday.

Mr Rajasegar, 47, who will succeed Mr S. Manogaran, is currently No. 2 at Sinda.

He joined it last year, bringing with him 12 years of experience teaching in government schools, polytechnics and private institutions, and eight years serving in management roles at MediaCorp, the Institute of Technical Education and the Defence Ministry.

He told The Straits Times his main focus when he assumes the top job is to raise the standards of mathematics and science of Indian primary and secondary school students to the national level.

The passing rate of Indian students in maths is 10 percentage points below the national average, he said, and it is five points below for science, although the results gap has narrowed considerably since Sinda's formation in 1991.

It is important for the students to do well in both subjects because about 70 per cent of courses in tertiary institutions require maths and science, he said, adding: 'If you are not strong in these subjects, many doors are shut to you.'

Sinda helps about 10,000 members of the Indian community, providing primarily tuition classes and bursaries to needy students.

The current chief executive, Mr Manogaran, will return to the Education Ministry to take up a senior appointment on Dec 14, when he completes his three-year secondment from the ministry.

The 50-year-old was praised by Sinda president Balaji Sadasivan for his outstanding work and inspiring leadership.

He had, among other things, launched new programmes, including one to strengthen the reading skills of Primary 1 to Primary 3 pupils, said Dr Balaji, who is Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

At Mendaki, Madam Moliah, 51, will take over from Madam Zuraidah Abdullah, who will return to the police force, said its statement yesterday.

Madam Zuraidah, 47, was Jurong Division commander in December 2006 when she was seconded to Mendaki.

During her three-year stint, she improved management practices and led Mendaki to win several awards, including a Manpower Ministry award last year for implementing work-life balance benefits for employees.

Reflecting on her stint, Madam Zuraidah expressed gratitude to community leaders for their guidance, ideas and support of efforts to help 'the disadvantaged exit from their cycle of hardships'.

Madam Moliah, a school cluster superintendent, said education was key to engaging the Malay- Muslim community.

'People don't know the choices they have. Values education, not just grades, is a social lever to better equip people for employment, parenting...and to enable people to make informed decisions about their own lives,' she said.