President’s Foreword

Singapore Physical Education Association (SPEA) will not be celebrating our 50th anniversary this year, if not for late Dr Lau Teng Chuan - an exceptional sportsman, teacher and sports administrator, who persuaded the PE fraternity to form the association in Singapore in 1975. Dr Lau eventually became the first and longest serving President for SPEA from 1975 – 1992. To honour his contributions, SPEA started the ‘Lau Teng Chuan Professional Development Fund’ and is one of the biggest contributors to it.

Inspired by Dr Lau, the successive Presidents of the SPEA built on the strong foundation laid and continued to lead and develop the association to what it is today – an organization that is committed to the promotion of high standards, sound practices and absolute professionalism in the PE and Sport community. On behalf of the association, I would like to express our deepest appreciation to the following past Presidents for their unfailing dedication and selfless contributions!

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the team of dedicated members who has courageously stepped up to serve in the SPEA Management Committee, taking on the heavy responsibility of leading the association forward with thoughtful considerations and innovative ideas. I am also very thankful to the members who have volunteered their services selflessly in various sub-committees, including the Publications, Awards Selection, Membership Management and Event Organizing Committees etc. It has been my greatest honour and privilege to serve alongside you!

In view of the increased importance of Physical Education (PE) to students with special educational needs (SEN), rising professionalism of PE in Special Education (SPED) Schools and the release of the PE Teaching and Learning Syllabus for SPED Schools in October 2024, SPEA has decided to extend the presentation of awards to PE Specialist teaching in SPED Schools to recognize their outstanding contributions made to the teaching, development and promotion of physical education in Singapore.

On this very significant year, we are happy to present the inaugural Outstanding SPED Physical Education Teacher Award (OSPETA – since 2025), together with the other two existing awards, namely the Outstanding Physical Education Teacher Award (OPETA – since 1996) and the Outstanding Teacher-Coach Award (OTCA – since 2019), at the Commemorative Dinner cum Award Presentation Ceremony at Summer Garden Restaurant @ SAFRA (Mt. Faber) held in conjunction with SPEA’s 50th Anniversary on 19 September 2025. Congratulations to all award winners!!

The SPEA 50th Anniversary Commemorative Dinner is also a very important platform for the entire PE and Sport fraternity to gather and reminisce the good old days with our friends and seniors. I am sure we are already getting excited and eagerly looking forward to this awesome reunion dinner!

As the quote above suggests, an anniversary celebration should not just stop short at celebrating the joys of today and the memories of yesterday. It is with this in mind that the SPEA Management Committee has decided to officially announce the following revised Vision, Mission and Core Values to signify a new departure for the association towards the next 50 years!

Finally, I would like to register my utmost appreciation to the dedicated members of the SPEA Publication Committee led by Mr Louis Ho, who have been putting in exceptional efforts to publish this special Jubilee Edition of our SPEA Newsletter! I am also deeply gratified by the members of the SPEA Management Committee for their unfailing dedication and absolute commitment in serving our members, as well as their contributions to creating a positive impact in the PE and Sport community, both locally and globally.

Happy 50th Anniversary! 

Thank you!

Leonard Koh Y.K.

President

Singapore Physical Education Association

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