Mentor Models His Own Advice

Added to that full plate, he has also been a mentor in the Faculty since 2017.

“I have many interests and I like to do things in a meaningful way. If I only taught maths, I think that would be boring,” he said.

Mr Kwan attempts to pass on his knowledge and enthusiasm to the student teachers of the new generation via the Faculty mentorship programme, because he really hopes his mentees could understand more about the current circumstances and ecology of the education field in the territory beyond their own classrooms. 

Mr Kwan conveys that excitement about learning to his mentees. To date, he has mentored eight students to help them better understand the education field and themselves and equip them to face coming challenges. He has provided them with updates on new developments in the local and international educational fields and advised them on how to study properly, prepare for teaching practica, write resumes and cover letters and practice for job interviews.

“I’ve never had a mentee whose specialty is mathematics education but that doesn’t matter. We seldom talk about subject matter, and it is more about helping them look into the next stage of their personal and professional development,” he said. 

“I answered a lot of questions from my mentee on WhatsApp one night guiding her on how to plan her further study, say from MPhil to PhD, as well as how to actualise her planning. She is very smart and ambitious with excellent academic results. She has also obtained some prestigious awards and conducted presentations at different academic conferences or symposia. Yet, I still felt the need to give her positive recognition and reassurance to confirm that her further study planning would come true. At that moment, I felt as if I were her supervisor instead of her mentor,” he added. 

Mr Kwan has been fortunate in achieving goals in both arenas. He has taught at St Peter’s Secondary School for about 30 years and is also a part-time lecturer in the Faculty’s Centre for Advancement in Inclusive and Special Education. He was seconded to the Education Bureau for two years from 2009-11 to work on mathematics education and sit on some of its committees. The combination of work experience and community service motivated his application for a PhD, which he will pursue when his daughter finishes secondary school. True to his profession as an educator, his aim in further education is not so much obtaining the degree as the learning process he will undergo.

“I tell my mentees to widen their horizons. It is not enough to study at university and teach. Instead, they will find life to be more meaningful if they broaden their networks and learn more about education around the world,” he said.

Mr Kwan obtained his Master of Education degree with a focus on educational guidance from the Faculty 17 years ago.