The "Uniform Culture" back then.
The TTC Zoo was started in September 1969 for learning and research purposes.
Source: Biology comes to life. (1970). TTC News, 4 (1), 1.
The Water Terrace landscape at the front of NIE façade was designed by Mr Hasan Zolkifly Bin Abdul Rahim, our former Visual & Performing Arts (VPA) lecturer. It was inspired by a traditional terraced padi field and has water channelling down to a pond with colourful koi.
Source: NIE wins energy efficient building awards. (2005). NIE News, (53), 3.
Part of the Bukit Timah campus was flooded in the 1980s due to an overnight heavy downpour over the area.
Flood Experience
By Yvonne Yin (Retired Librarian)
Since I got my driving licence, I had been driving to work instead of taking the bus. However, that particular morning I decided to leave the car at home as I thought my father might want to use the car. So I boarded the bus … which stopped short of the bus stop where I normally get off. You guessed the reason – Bukit Timah Road was flooded after the overnight rain! I waited hopefully, but when the bus didn’t budge, I hopped off and splashed my way up to the IE Library. I was very thankful that I didn’t drive that day!
The NIE NTU orchid, Papilionanda NIE SG, was unveiled by President Halimah Yacob on 3 September 2020 in commemoration of NIE’s 70th anniversary.
Source: An orchid to call our own.. (2020). NIEWS, (113), 8.
In 1950, the Teachers’ Training College (TTC) was founded and housed in the old Anglo-Chinese School Building at Cairnhill. It began its first session on 1 March 1950.
Source: Lun, C. Y., & de Souza, D. (Eds.) (1983). IEXperience: The first ten years. Institute of Education (Singapore).
The Institute of Education (IE) was established on 1 Apr 1973 and took over the functions of the TTC, the Research Unit of the Ministry of Education, and the School of Education at the University of Singapore.
Source: Lun, C. Y., & de Souza, D. (Eds.) (1983). IEXperience: The first ten years. Institute of Education (Singapore).
The College of Physical Education (CPE) was established in 1984 at Bukit Timah Campus to train specialist Physical Education teachers.
Source: Aplin, N., Kunalan, C., Tan, J., & Quek, J. J. (2010). Introduction to the National Institute of Education (1991-2010). In A. Y. Chen & S. L. Koay (Eds.), Transforming teaching, inspiring learning: 60 years of teacher education in Singapore, 1950-2010. (pp. 77-86). National Institute of Education (Singapore).
Source：College of Physical Education Prospectus. (1984). The College.
New facilities of the College of Physical Education (CPE)
The new facilities of the College of Physical Education were officially opened on 10 Mar 1990.
Source: College of Physical Education Prospectus. (1990). The College.
The National Institute of Education (NIE) was formed on 1 July 1991 through the amalgamation of the Institute of Education (IE) and the College of Physical Education (CPE). NIE was also established as an autonomous institute of the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) when it was reconstituted from the former Nanyang Technological Institute.
Source: Gopinathan, S. (2010). Introduction to the National Institute of Education (1991-2010). In A. Y. Chen & S. L. Koay (Eds.), Transforming teaching, inspiring learning: 60 years of teacher education in Singapore, 1950-2010. (pp. 129-131). National Institute of Education (Singapore).
The Youth Olympic Village (YOV) for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games was located at NTU. The Village Square at NIE served as the heart of YOV where athletes and officials socialised and participated in the Cultural and Education Programmes.
Source: “V” is for “village”. (2010, January/February). @NTU, (81), 39.
Citius, Altius, Fortius
by Douglas Lau
This phrase, which is Latin for “Faster, Higher, Stronger”, is the motto of the Olympic Games. I was privileged to be part of the team that was involved in the hosting of athletes at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010. NIE Library was designated the Digital Media Centre of the Youth Olympic Village (YOV) and we worked with the organizers to ensure that initial preparations and the implementation went smoothly. Thankfully the YOV was a great success. It was a memorable and fun-filled experience. This has taught me the value of teamwork and staying calm in all situations.
Credit: This article was first published in “In 99 words: Stories librarians tell”. Republished with permission from the Library Association of Singapore.
Close encounter of the "cat" kind
by Ooi Lian Ping
Getting to our library building on the hill at the Bukit Timah Campus in the early 90s took us through a line of rain trees and yellow flames. After a downpour one morning, I walked up the slope as usual and felt something dropping on my head. Just rainwater dripping down, I thought. "What are those things on you?" My colleague asked, as I stepped into the office. The "things" turned out to be caterpillars in brown camouflage! I can tell you that spotting silverfish in books is definitely nothing compared to a shower of caterpillars on your head!
Credit: This article was first published in “In 99 words: Stories librarians tell”. Republished with permission from the Library Association of Singapore.
We solemnly
Dedicate ourselves
To the sacred task
Of nation-building
By fostering
The intellectual
Physical, moral
And social growth
Of every
New generation.
This we pledge
In cooperation
With all members
Of the profession
In the spirit
Of brotherhood
And progress
In education.
Source: Lun, C. Y., & de Souza, D. (Eds.) (1983). IEXperience: The first ten years. Institute of Education (Singapore).
The TTC college song was first sung on 4 November 1967.
Download the softcopy here.
Source: Teachers’ Training College. (1968). Official opening of the new auditorium and complex of buildings of the Teachers' Training College by the Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew on 16th February, 1968 : souvenir. The College.
Download the softcopy here.
Source: Chen, A. Y. (2010). Introduction to the Institute of Education (1973-1990). In A. Y. Chen & S. L. Koay (Eds.), Transforming teaching, inspiring learning: 60 years of teacher education in Singapore, 1950-2010. (pp. 51-55). National Institute of Education (Singapore).
Unveiled on 22 February 1992, the Tree of Education is a work of well-known local sculptor, Chern Lian Shan. Its theme is the Chinese proverb: Ten years to grow a tree, a hundred years to educate a person (“十年树木，百年树人”)
Source: The Tree of Education: A sculpture by Chern Lian Shan. (1992). NIE News, (4), 1.
Ode to the Tree of Education
“Assoc Prof Tan Chee Lay’s poem, “Ode to the Tree of Education”, captures the essence of the NIE’s enduring impact—rooted in legacy, growing with purpose, and reaching boldly toward the future. Just like a tree, education is a living legacy—nurtured by the past, thriving in the present, and ever-reaching toward the future”.
Credit: First posted on NIE Facebook on 21 Mar 2025.
See also: 教育之树礼赞 ——致教院75周年春风化雨
To encourage teachers to embark on research, an Educator-Researcher Connect platform was created for teachers to collaborate with the NIE researchers on a research project, contribute to education through ongoing inquiry and reflection, and promote a culture of lifelong learning.
Source: Education research at the National Institute of Education. (2023). NIEWS, (125), 20.