SINGAPORE – Forty-nine schools will have new principals in 2027 in an annual reshuffle, including 13 educators taking on the role for the first time.
Seven of the 49 appointees’ current or last held roles are in the Ministry of Education (MOE) headquarters.
The appointments, announced by MOE on Oct 7, affect one junior college, 15 secondary schools and 33 primary schools.
The ministry will formally appoint the principals at its annual appointment and appreciation ceremony for principals on Dec 30.
Nanyang Junior College is the only junior college getting a new principal. Shawn Lim Chee Koon, who is now principal of St Gabriel’s Secondary School, will take over the helm.
Among the six first-time principals appointed to secondary schools is Timothy Tay Soon Inn, now vice-principal of Presbyterian High School, who will head Anderson Secondary School.
The other first-time principals will head CHIJ Katong Convent, CHIJ St Theresa’s Convent, East Spring Secondary School, Seng Kang Secondary School and Yishun Secondary School.
Seven first-time principals will take charge of primary schools.
They will be posted to Bedok Green, Fuhua, Gan Eng Seng, Jiemin, Lianhua, Palm View and Si Ling primary schools.
Several experienced school leaders and MOE headquarters officers will also take up new appointments as principals.
One first-time appointee, Patricia Lim Wai Ping, most recently a deputy director at the MOE’s Communications & Engagement Group, will take the helm at Lianhua Primary School.
Sharma Poonam Kumari, now a cluster superintendent in MOE’s Schools Division, will head NorthLight School.
Tan Siew Woon, a senior teaching fellow with the National Institute of Education, will head Manjusri Secondary School.
Tao Nan School will be headed by Loh Wee Cheng, now a divisional director of MOE’s Student Development Curriculum.
The school’s principal, Poh Qinyu, will move to Valour Primary School.
Loh, 47, began her career as an English teacher at Tao Nan School, followed by stints at the Ministry of Home Affairs’ Strategic Planning and Development Division and MOE’s Recruitment Branch.
She then served as vice-principal at Catholic High School and Rulang Primary School before being appointed principal at Townsville Primary School.
At MOE HQ, she has served at the Gifted Education, Psychological Services and Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) branches.
She currently oversees curriculum and programmes related to student development and CCE.
“I’m deeply honoured to have this opportunity to return to Tao Nan School,” Loh said.
She wants to build on the school’s efforts in promoting bilingual education and nurturing all students to become “active, contributing members of society”.
First-time principal Claudia Chang Chooi Ping will head CHIJ St Theresa’s Convent, where she served as vice-principal from 2022 to 2024.
At 39, she is the youngest newly appointed principal in this cohort.
Her career includes serving as head of department (leadership & CCE) at Commonwealth Secondary School, alongside postings at MOE’s Planning, Schools, and Curriculum Planning & Development (Humanities) divisions. She has also held roles at SkillsFuture Singapore and the former Workforce Development Agency.
Chang hopes to build resilience and adaptability in students for an uncertain world.
“It’s hard to predict what the future will be like for them. I want to set them up to grapple with that and embrace the challenge,” she said.
Chang also wants to build a supportive school community, where the girls feel safe opening up to their teachers and parents.
“I want to know them deeply and let them know they are seen and loved. If students are struggling, I hope they can share their struggle with someone,” she said.
MOE said: “The appointment and rotation of principals allow schools to benefit from new perspectives and ideas, and enable experienced school leaders to share expertise and best practices across schools.”
It also gives principals the opportunity to broaden their leadership experience, MOE added.
In 2026, a total of 41 schools received new principals, including 25 first-time appointees.
Education Minister Desmond Lee will attend the Dec 30 ceremony, where director-general of education Liew Wei Li will present letters of appointment.
MOE will also recognise retiring principals and retiring senior education officers from its headquarters who have previously served as principals.
Additional reporting by Elisha Tushara