INSIGHTS - Creating tomorrow with Continuing Education
Mr Tay Tse Wan and his son, Tay Quan Kai, celebrate completing their Specialist Diploma in AI Solutions Development together, reflecting a shared commitment to resilience and lifelong learning.
Father and Son Give Up Weekends to Learn AI Together
For the past year, Mr Tay Tse Wan, 60, and his son, Tay Quan Kai, 23, spent many evenings and weekends studying side by side for a Specialist Diploma in AI Solutions Development at Temasek Polytechnic.
For Mr Tay, a lifelong learner with multiple qualifications, the course was a way to stay relevant in an AI-driven world. For Quan Kai, it was an opportunity to gain new skills while learning valuable life lessons from his father.
The journey was not without challenges. Both had to juggle work, personal commitments and coursework, often sacrificing their weekends to complete projects and assignments.
More than earning another qualification, the experience strengthened their bond and reinforced values such as resilience, persistence and lifelong learning.
Read the full story: https://www.straitstimes.com/life/lifelong-learning-father-and-son-give-up-weekends-to-do-ai-diploma-together
Mr Tay Tse Wan was subsequently named a recipient of the SkillsFuture Lifelong Learning Award 2026, recognising his commitment to continuous learning.
Mr Mohammad Tarmizi with his son, whose autism diagnosis inspired his return to school and a deeper commitment to supporting families with special needs.
A Father's Journey Back to School
When his son was diagnosed with autism, Mr Mohammad Tarmizi found himself struggling to understand how best to support him. Determined to learn more, he decided to return to school and deepen his knowledge of special needs education.
Balancing work, family responsibilities and studies was not easy, but the experience gave him valuable insights into autism and how he could better support not only his son, but also other families facing similar challenges.
What started as a personal journey soon became a meaningful pursuit of knowledge, empathy and lifelong learning.
For Mr Tarmizi, going back to school was about more than earning a qualification. It was about becoming a better father and making a difference in the lives of others.
Read the full story: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/parenting-education/how-a-fathers-struggle-to-understand-his-sons-autism-led-him-back-to-school
Muhammad Khairi Mohamad Shah celebrates his graduation from Temasek Polytechnic with his family, marking the fulfilment of a diploma journey 20 years in the making.
A Two-Decade Wait for a Diploma
Twenty years after leaving polytechnic without a qualification, Muhammad Khairi Mohamad Shah finally achieved a goal he never gave up on — earning his diploma.
Dismissed from polytechnic at 16 due to poor academic performance, Khairi went on to build a successful media production business. Yet, the desire to complete his education stayed with him.
In 2023, he returned to the classroom, enrolling in Temasek Polytechnic's part-time Diploma in Business Practice (Business Administration). Balancing studies, work, family commitments and recovery from knee surgery was challenging, but he remained determined to finish what he had started.
For Khairi, graduating in 2026 was more than receiving a qualification. It was about proving to himself that he could overcome past setbacks and, most importantly, make his mother proud after a 20-year journey.
Read the full story: https://www.beritaharian.sg/mata-mata/3060249/penantian-dua-dekad-demi-segulung-diploma
