Sasikumar Ponnalagu

I am currently a Teaching Fellow at the Asian Languages and Cultures Academic Group at the National Institute of Education, Singapore since Jan 2024. My earlier stints were at Boon Lay Secondary School as a Tamil Teacher from Jun 2000 – 2010. My teaching career as a secondary school language teacher for 11 years gave me an avenue to understand the education system of Singapore better and allowed me to have an opportunity to learn a repertoire of teaching and Learning strategies that has helped me become a better educator.

Following that, I had a stint as a Curriculum Planning Officer in CPDD at MOE from Jan 2011 – Dec 2013. I have also contributed as a Curriculum Resource Development Officer and Senior Curriculum Resource Development Officer in CPDD at MOE from Jan 2014 – May 2015 and Jun 2015 – Dec 2015 respectively. Between January 2016 to December 2019, I was a Teaching Fellow at the Asian Languages and Cultures Academic Group at the National Institute of Education, Singapore. January 2020 to December 2023, I was a Co-Ordinator at CCKSS Tamil Language Centre, Singapore.

My work experience as a Curriculum Planning Officer in MOE HQ for 5 years and being part of the resource development team from Pre-primary, Primary, Secondary, JC categories helped me in achieving my performance targets. In my stint at CPPD I had the opportunity to collaborate and work in tandem with SEAB officers on moderation matters and assessment modes. That gave me a different perspective of learning. I was assigned by SEAB to be a setter for “O” level and “A“ level Tamil examination papers. I was also involved in the process of crafting the PERI Holistic Assessment in Tamil. I had a broad overview of PERI Holistic Assessment. Besides, I was also a Part Time Associate Faculty at SIM University from Jan 2008 – Dec 2015.

I have published research papers in nearly 10 conference proceedings and research articles in national and international research journals. To-date I have authored 2 books. I have delivered keynote / special / plenary / valedictorian addresses at more than 10 conferences held locally and internationally; I have also presented papers at nearly 25 conferences and seminar papers locally and internationally.

2007 Ph.D. (Tamil Language & Literature)

Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), Madurai, India

2008 M.A. (Applied Linguistics)

Annamalai University , Chidhambaram, India

1999 M.Ed (Tamil Language Teaching)

Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), Madurai, India

1998 B.Ed (Tamil Language Teaching)

Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), Madurai, India

1997 M.Phil. (Tamil Language & Literature)

Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), Madurai, India

1996 M.A. (Tamil Language & Literature)

Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), Madurai, India

1994 B.A. (Tamil Language & Literature)

Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), Madurai, India

2014 Excellent Service Award, Ministry of Education

• Writing (Tamil Language and Writing Pedagogy, Academic Writing, Creative Writing )

• Literacy Studies (Heritage and Literacy Practices)

• Communication Skills

•Classical Literature

2024 (Till Date) Teaching Fellow, ALC AG, NIE, NTU, Singapore

2020 - 2023 Co Ordinator / CCKSS Tamil Language Centre, Singapore

2016 – 2019 Teaching Fellow, ALC AG, NIE, NTU, Singapore

2014 - 2015 Senior Curriculum Resource Development Officer, MOE, Singapore

2011- 2013 Curriculum Planning Officer , MOE, Singapore

2000 – 2010 Tamil Teacher, Boon Lay Secondary School, Singapore

2008 - 2015 Associate Faculty (Part Time), SIM University, Singapore

1999 Graduate Tutor, Thiagarajar Arts College, Madurai India

1998 Tamil Teacher, St Mary’s Higher Secondary School, Madurai India

1.2019 The Presence of Affection for Living Beings in Classical Literature.

Yazhini Publication, India.

2.2015 Tamil Traditional Games for children. PJK Publication, India.

Papers Published in National and International Seminars and Conferences / Workshops:

1.Paper presentation – International Conference – 05/03/2024 Jointly Organised By Department of Tamil, University of Malaya, Malaysia

Topic – Teaching and Learning through Traditional Games.

2.Advisory Committee Member & Paper presentation - National Level Tamil Language Teachers’ Professional Sharing Session – 11/08/2023 organised by CCKSS Tamil Language Centre, Singapore

3.Advisory Committee Member & Paper presentation – Diaspora Tamil Education Conference 2023 – 26/05/2023 to 29/05/2023 Jointly Organised By International Tamil Academy (ITA), California, USA. Topic – Teaching and Learning through ICT.

4.Advisory Committee Member & Paper presentation – 14th World Tamil Teachers’ Conference – 04/12/2022 to 06/12/2022 Jointly Organised By World Tamil Teachers Organisation, Mauritius. Topic – Teaching and Learning through Heritage, Culture and the Arts.

5.Key note Speaker & Paper presentation – International Conference – 18/05/2022 Jointly Organised By Department of Tamil & Tirunelveli Thachna Maara Naadar Sangam college, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India.

Topic – Teaching and Learning through Folk Literature.

6.Advisory Committee Member & Paper presentation – 13th World Tamil Teachers’ Conference – 02/12/2022 to 04/12/2022 Jointly Organised By Tamil Nadu Elementary School teachers’ Federation & World Tamil Teachers Organisation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Topic – Teaching and Learning through Heritage, Culture and the Arts.

7.“Singapore Indian spiritual practices” on 29th July 2021 at an International Conference, SFR College, Sivakasii, India.

8.I will be present a paper on “Singapore & Malaysia Folklore Literature” on 13th November 2021 at an International Conference, World Tamil Association, Madurai, India.

9.Comparative study Tamil and other Languages of Literature 25th August 2020

International Conference, Madura College, Madurai, India

4. Shared teaching expertise at the Dialogue Session with NTU / NIE Student