For Mr Ng, he was inspired at an early stage, after some relief teaching stints following his graduation from university. The experience was so fulfilling that when the Ministry of Education (MOE) opened the application to engineers to join the service in 1988, he followed his heart and joined the teaching service. Today, he's the Principal of Henry Park Primary School.

There's more good news in store for teachers who joined the profession mid-career. From 2008, they'll enjoy faster promotions and additional pay increments that will narrow the gap between them and their peers who joined the service immediately after university. As for new mid-career recruits, they can look forward to higher starting salaries, faster promotion prospects and additional pay increments upon promotion.

Mid-career teachers have at least a year of work experience prior to becoming a teacher. Their diverse backgrounds bring fresh perspectives to teaching, injecting a dose of real-world experience into the learning environment. "We have found mid-career teachers to be very committed to teaching and they are adding much value to the profession," says Mr Wong Siew Hoong, MOE's Director of Schools.

These teachers used to account for just 15 per cent of the education service five years ago, but now one of out every five teachers is a mid-career teacher. With this group growing steadily, MOE saw it fit to accord them more benefits and recognition.

Topping the list is the provision of higher starting salaries for new mid-career teachers. From January 2008, their starting pay will take into account up to 80% of their former non-teaching work experience, rather than the present 50%. Past teaching experience will continue to be recognised fully. In addition, graduate entrants with three or more years of work experience could be directly appointed on the GEO 1A1 scale of the Education Service after training at the NIE. This is one grade higher than the current entry grades of GEO 1.1 for teachers fresh out of NIE.

Meanwhile, existing mid-career teachers will enter a faster lane for promotions and salary adjustments. These changes are expected to bring all existing mid-career staff on par with their peers within six years.

Mr Vincent Lim believes the new salary pegs and career roadmap "will attract more mid-career teachers to come in." Now the Head of Department of Principles of Accounts, Computer Application and Elements of Office Administration at Admiralty Secondary, Mr Lim turned to teaching as he sought an "opportunity to work closely with teenagers and share with them the lessons I have seen in the corporate world."

Remembering how he had once felt at a loss as a fresh graduate, not knowing how to prepare for job interviews or write resumes, Mr Lim now wants to equip his charges "with the essential skills for the working world." He has helped his students set up a gift shop co-operative, hair salon and retail lab in school, so that they can apply what they have learned in the classroom.

"Personally I found my inner voice through teaching," Mr Lim notes with conviction. "I now have so many opportunities to influence my students' lives for the better, in the way I know best."

Mdm Norlizan, who teaches at Townsville Primary, also feels a sense of similar fulfilment. "I love working with people, and that's why I chose nursing," she says, "but before I entered nursing, I had always wanted to be a teacher." After she got married, she took the chance to switch careers. "I wasn't even thinking of the salary back then!" she recalls.

Reflecting on her two people-centred careers, Mdm Norlizan adds, "When I was a staff nurse, the responsibility was a big one. Now I am moulding the future. The pressure is high, but I know that I'm making a difference."

For more information, read MOE's press release on enhancements to the salary and promotion prospects of mid-career teachers.