THE role of a parent watching her child graduate was reversed last week.
Madam Ng Chiew Ying's proud children watched as she walked in a graduation gown to collect her degree last Wednesday.
Madam Ng, 39, was the oldest among the 59 pioneer students who received their Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education Studies and Leadership from Boston's Wheelock College at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
The Boston-based degree is a collaboration between Ngee Ann and the Regional Training and Resource Centre in Early Childhood Care and Education for Asia.
Said Madam Ng, whose husband works as a maintenance supervisor at a seafood restaurant: 'It started out as a genuine curiosity on how to be a better parent.
'As I had my boys, I was curious to learn more about how kids learn. I was also struck by how each boy learnt things differently.'
Madam Ng has twin boys, both 13, and an elder boy, 15.
She did what most parents did at first - by reading magazines and books.
But she found herself wanting to learn more.
Madam Ng's curiosity also stemmed from not having a relationship with her own mother, who died when she was only 5.
The ninth child in a family of 10 was then raised by her sister-in-law, though her father was still 'the overall leader'.
Madam Ng said her father, though stern, was very involved in raising and taking care of her family.
Since 1993, she has been teaching music at a music school in Clementi every weekend.
Interest in children
That, too, fuelled her interest in children and early childhood education.
'I don't teach young kids only about music. I want to be able to help kids bond with their parents as well,' she said.
She first obtained her diploma in early childhood education from Ngee Ann polytechnic in 2002 and then worked in the childcare industry as a teacher and principal from 2002 to 2006.
But because of her love for children, she has not given up teaching at the music school.
On weekdays, she works at the childcare centre, and teaches music on weekends.
In 2007, she enrolled in the two-year full-time degree programme.
She paid for the course - about $18,000 - herself.
Doing the full-time degree programme was not easy as Madam Ng had to juggle her parenting duties with school work.
She also continued teaching music during weekends.
But she always made time for her family.
She lives in a five-room flat with her family in Pasir Ris. She gets up at 5.45am every day to prepare breakfast for her sons and eat with them.
'Sometimes we all get so busy and I want to make sure I have at least some time talking to them every day,' she said.
Said one of her twins, Koh Yu Rong: 'It's usually the young ones who get a degree, but my mother also managed to do it. That's why she is very impressive.
'She can manage a lot of things at the same time and she is a real inspiration to us.'
For now, Madam Ng has no plans to pursue her career in the childcare industry.
She said: 'Being a music teacher is challenging enough.
'Besides, my first priority is still to be a good parent. Next year, my eldest son will be sitting for his O-level exams so I'll be focusing my energies on him.'
