Engineer went back to school for son
Mr Lee Hock Tee returned to school in 2012 in a bid to inspire his son.
He graduated on Tuesday with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.8 for his Higher Nitec in Technology — Electrical Engineering.
The 55-year-old was also awarded the Singapore Labour Foundation (SLF) Gold Medal, which gives recognition to Continuing Education and Training (CET) graduates for their upgrading efforts.
Derek Wong (wderek@sph.com.sg) speaks with Mr Lee to find out about his learning journey.
What made you decide to take up the course?
I had been considering upgrading my qualifications for more than a decade, but what made me sign up for the course was my son.
After achieving his Nitec, he was deciding whether to pursue his Higher Nitec and I wanted to encourage him by studying with him.
What were some of the challenges you faced?
When I sat for the entrance examination in January 2012. It was my first examination since 1977 when I did my O levels. Also, it was tiring going for lessons after work.
What are some memorable experiences?
On the first day of my lessons, my son came over to say hello while I was having dinner with my new classmates.
For my first examinations in October 2012, I was surprised when I got distinctions for both modules.
What are your future plans?
This qualification is just for my theoretical knowledge, as I already have my job-related skills.
I will be going back to my work as a service operation engineer after this. But these two years have opened my eyes. I didn’t realise I still had the energy to study.
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now