TEACHERS

In 2009, the difficulty of PSLE math problems caused a stir in the media. Mr Lim, who had not experienced that part of Singapore's education system himself, was fascinated and wanted to know what kind of education could justify setting such difficult problems for 12-year-olds.

 

He had assumed that, in a good education system, national exams should not simply be a pipeline for identifying the naturally stronger students. There must therefore have been ways within the education system to help students become capable of solving such problems at that age.

 

That assumption led him into mathematics education.

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He now has a successful track record in guiding students through a wide range of mathematical needs — from deeper exploration and non-routine problem solving to competitions, advanced mathematics and school examinations.

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Mr Lim believes that a comprehensive math education involves two parts: teaching students how to figure things out on their own, and teaching them how to master what others have already figured out.

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He observed that students are often expected to master what others have already figured out, but this is less effective when they have not developed the skills needed to figure things out for themselves.

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He later founded School of Mathcraft to develop this approach.

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