Orbis Leading Future Learning participants have been fortunate to hear from one of Singapore’s leading educational thinkers, Professor Pak Tee Ng, as he offers insights and ideas by blending philosophy, policy and personal encouragement. We’ve captured some of his key takeaways.

What is real intelligence?

“If artificial intelligence is artificial, then what is real intelligence?”

In an age where AI is reshaping education, Pak Tee urges us not to lose sight of what makes us human. Education, he reasons, should be a platform for real human intelligence, our creativity, empathy, and critical thinking, to flourish, not fade. Rather than allowing AI to replace human capabilities, we must use it wisely to enhance them. The goal is not to automate away our humanity, but to amplify it.

The paradox of centralised decentralisation:

Pak Tee articulates the paradox of the Singaporean system being both, “highly centralised and highly decentralised at the same time.”

The central government sets strategic priorities (eg, student wellbeing). But schools have autonomy to implement these priorities in ways that suit their local context. He calls this strategic alignment (centralised vision) and tactical empowerment (decentralised execution); an approach allowing for system-wide coherence while respecting local agency—a balance the South Australian Department for Education's Strategy for Public Education strives to achieve.

Leader wellbeing

“While we may not be able to change the world, we can change our internal world to better embrace the challenges of the external world.”

Leaders, Pak Tee notes, often carry the burdens of many—but who carries theirs? He encourages educators to care for themselves, not as an act of selfishness, but as a foundation for sustainable leadership.

When leaders are well, their communities thrive.

Planting for the future

“We plant trees under whose shade we may never sit.”

Pak Tee left with a message of hope and responsibility. This sentiment captures the essence of educational leadership: investing in futures we may never see, nurturing minds we may never fully know, and building systems that outlast us.

Pak Tee’s talk is a reminder that education is both a science and an art, a system and a soul. It’s about paradoxes, yes—but also about purpose. As we navigate the complexities of AI, leadership, and reform, his words call us back to what matters most: real intelligence, real care, and real courage.

Call to action

Planting for the future

Reflect on how you can apply these insights in your own context.

• How can you nurture real intelligence in your learners?
• How can you care for yourself as a leader?
• How can you balance strategic alignment with tactical empowerment in your school or preschool?