THE National Institute of Education (NIE) will train educators from the Philippines under a new programme sponsored by the Temasek Foundation.

The foundation will provide more than $2.2 million over two years to train new teachers, serving teachers and heads of departments, either at the NIE or Ateneo de Manila University in Manila.

For a start, some 80 Filipino educators will receive sponsorship to study for postgraduate diplomas and attend other professional development programmes.

They will attend leadership programmes here, so that school leaders of both countries will have a chance to collaborate and develop strategic practices.

Teachers in the Philippines will be able to apply for scholarships for the Postgraduate Diploma in Education at the NIE, along with Singapore trainee teachers.

The programme will also provide information technology to Filipino schools. This aspect will kick off in nine public schools in Quezon City, Manila.

They will be introduced to methods such as IT-based instructional packages, which will include the use of simulations and games.

NIE director Lee Sing Kong said the programme is the NIE's way of sharing best practices with educators in the region.