From Flab to Fit, and It Takes Only a Sharp Eye

On 8 July 2008, three teachers were presented with the Outstanding Youth in Education Award (OYEA) for their passion and dedication to teaching. This is the first in a series of interviews with this year’s award-winners.

From flab to fit, from spectator to skipper – had it not been for the sharp eye and constant encouragement of his secondary school PE teacher, Mr Quek Swee Nee would have likely grown up overweight, introverted, and, in all probability, a bystander in life.

“I was a little overweight in secondary school, but I could complete the 2.4-kilometre run in 10 minutes. My teacher was quick to spot my potential and encouraged me to join the cross-country team,” he remembers. And while he did not make the school team, his teacher’s support opened his eyes to new opportunities.

Today, Mr Quek is the Head of Department, Aesthetics/PE/CCA at Bukit View Primary School, with a string of sports-related achievements under his belt. The latest feather in his cap: winning the Outstanding Youth in Education Award (OYEA).

From failure to confidence

Mr Quek’s sports career got off to a rocky start when he was a child. Slightly obese at the time, he was always relegated to the “unwanted” role of goalie in soccer games. When he joined basketball for his CCA, his mother took him out, fearful that he would suffer heat exhaustion.

In Pri 4, he begged his father to buy him a badminton racket for the trials in school, even though it was a luxury the family could ill afford. He got the racket, but during the sports trials he failed to return the serve from his opponent. As such, he wasn’t selected for the school tennis team.

It wasn’t until secondary school where his interest in sports was piqued, when a teacher talent-spotted him for the cross-country race. “I made a lot of friends which boosted my confidence and changed my attitude towards sports. That experience, and the passion shown by all the PE teachers, convinced me that I too could touch lives and do good through sports.”

Building character through sports

At Bukit View Primary School, Mr Quek is now a firm believer in the holistic development of a child and leads projects that enhance pupils’ talents and self-esteem. For example, he spearheaded Mass CCA ExpreSSions@BVPS. “Pupils from different levels participate in fun and innovative activities each term, such as cup-stacking, hip hop, tambourine dance, digital art, inline skating and wushu,” he explains. “This programme aims to develop talented pupils by identifying them early so that we can prepare them for the global sporting platform.” He also implemented Project Be A Star, where pupils who excel in their CCA get to perform in front of the school during Mass CCA sessions.

“I believe that the benefit to pupils must take priority in every decision we make,” he says. “The Aesthetics/PE/CCA programme emphasises their total well-being, talent development and character-building.” Equally important, he wants “to teach pupils about adversity quotient – the ability to handle setbacks”.

While getting students enthused about such activities, Mr Quek also continues to be involved in various sports beyond the school. An Ultimate Frisbee enthusiast, he donned national colours for the World Club Ultimate Championship 2006 in Perth and is the Director for Training and Education for the Singapore Ultimate Players Association. He initiated the Inter-JC Ultimate Frisbee tournament, providing youths the opportunity to compete at the JC level. He has also conducted workshops and organised carnivals to introduce the sport to more PE teachers, youths and children.

Mr Quek’s passion fuelled the publication of Disc In!, the second book in the world to be published about Ultimate Frisbee, in collaboration with the Singapore Physical Education Association. He also hopes to raise the professional status of PE in Singapore – to encourage more educators to write and publish in order to share new ideas and best practices.

What’s next for an OYEA winner

On receiving the OYEA Award, he says, “It greatly motivated me to further contribute to the education system. An education officer can contribute in any area, position or appointment – it boils down to the passion and attitude!”

“I hope to seek innovative and fun activities to develop pupils holistically – physically, intellectually, emotionally, socially. The emphasis for me is on talent development, looking into the total well-being of a person, and building character,” he adds. And according to his definition, talent development also means “being able to motivate another young education officer in my school to be conferred the OYEA too” – a new goal that he is embarking on, in his own way.