Our staff
Imre Wessels
Imre Wessels is a forest school educator with a long track record in the corporate world. He used to work for companies such as LinkedIn, Supermetrics, and EuroDev. His interest in self-directed education started when he imagined what schools would be like if there were a separation between school and state. He writes about education and other topics on his Substack. Imre has visited democratic schools in Ireland, the Netherlands, and Bulgaria. This has given him a deeper understanding of the necessity of starting a democratic school in Singapore.
‘I’ve met students and graduates of democratic schools. They are some of the most thoughtful, proactive, and independent-thinking people I have ever met. Why? Because systems convey values. The democratic school system is based on respecting a child’s rights. A student is in charge of their own life. Being in charge of your own actions fosters responsibility. And by being free to interact with children of different ages, everyone learns so much more than when they are segregated by age.’
Noor Syafiqah Jamal
Syafiqah Jamal is an early childhood educator with over seven years of experience in Singapore’s early childhood sector. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from SUSS and is ECDA L2 certified. Her work includes teaching in local and international preschools, facilitating forest school programmes, and supporting children through personalised home learning sessions.
Her interest in child-led and inquiry-based education grew from observing how children become more engaged and confident when they are trusted with autonomy in their learning. She believes that when children are given time to explore their ideas and interact with others in meaningful ways, learning becomes deeper and more authentic. This perspective aligns with the values of democratic education, where children’s voices and choices are valued.