Ng Chee Meng apologises for how he acted in 2017 MOE dialogue with teachers

Labour Chief Ng Chee Meng has responded to an Instagram post by a former teacher that detailed a 2017 dialogue session he, and his NIE cohort, had with a minister, who was heavily implied (and later confirmed) to be Ng when he was education minister (schools).

The former teacher claimed that Ng reacted angrily to a question about SAP schools and asked the teacher to "better stand up" when Ng was speaking to him.

"I sincerely apologise"

On May 6, Ng responded to the post, and apologised for the remarks he made close to a decade ago.

He said that while he did not remember the exact words he used that day, he regretted if any of his remarks came across as "disrespectful, especially when the participants had raised questions in good faith".

He said,

"I regret if any of my remarks came across as disrespectful, especially when the participants had raised questions in good faith. I could have handled the situation better. I sincerely apologise".

Ng added that he had "received and accepted the feedback, and will continue to do better".

Ng also said that he greatly values the work that teachers do every day and they make a tremendous difference in our students' lives.

Online claims by the former teacher

Some of the points the former teacher claimed included:

1. Ng had reacted angrily to a question about SAP schools.

2. Ng had said "when Minister is talking to you, you better stand up" to the former teacher when he had returned to his seat and sat down after his question.

3. When another teacher came up to add another question about SAP schools, Ng had said there was no need to "conspire against minister".

4. Ng had asked the room if they read at least one book a month, and when seeing the amount of hands, asked "sure or not... fiction book or serious book?"

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ivan David Ng (@ivandavidng)

Mothership reached out to Ng's office to comment on the dialogue session, and for Ng's own recollection of the event.

On May 6, Ng responded to the post.

Here is his full statement.

"I have also read the online posts regarding an MOE dialogue in 2017 before I became Secretary-General of NTUC. I greatly value the work that teachers do every day.

They make a tremendous difference in our students' lives. I do not remember the exact words I used that day as close to a decade has passed since the dialogue.

I regret if any of my remarks came across as disrespectful, especially when the participants had raised questions in good faith. I could have handled the situation better. I sincerely apologise.

I have received and accepted the feedback, and will continue to do better."

Here is Ng's Facebook post on the matter.

Image from Instagram/Ivan David Ng and Ng Chee Meng Facebook