Take Ong Jiayu, for example.

A Sec 3 N(A) student in Seng Kang Secondary School, he was a "part-time" student who often skipped classes and failed to hand in his coursework when Madam Dewi first joined the school last year.

Refusing to give up on him, Madam Dewi befriended Jiayu and gained his trust. She sought to build up his sense of self-worth and confidence. For example, during lessons, she would delegate some tasks to him and when he did these well, she would praise him.

Madam Dewi with photographs of some dishes she created.

Thanks to these efforts, she began to see changes in him. He now attends classes much more regularly. And "when he didn't come for lessons, he would send me a message via handphone to explain why he could not make it," says Madam Dewi.

Recently, she collaborated with Temasek Polytechnic to develop a three-day attachment programme for Express students. Jiayu was the only N(A) student Madam Dewi chose to attend this programme. She saw potential in him because he often came up with creative ideas that were different from others in his class, and she wanted to give him a chance to explore the culinary path.

"I told him that after this he may or may not go on to the polytechnic. It doesn't matter, but at least he should give himself the opportunity," shares Madam Dewi. Jiayu was totally surprised by her offer of the attachment programme, as it had not occurred to him to that he could go to a polytechnic. But when that possibility arose, he was excited by the prospect.

Laughter is a favourite ingredient in Mdm Dewi's lessons

As her N(A) students plan their next step after their 'N' or 'O' Levels, Madam Dewi hopes to help them explore options beyond the popular courses of business or engineering. She points out that with the opening of the Integrated Resorts, tourism is expected to boom and there will be high demand for service professionals such as chefs. The culinary arts could be a worthy career option for those who with an interest or aptitude for this field.

Next year, Madam Dewi hopes to work out an attachment programme for N(A) students with the Institute of Technical Education, which offers a certificate course in culinary skills. Students could also consider becoming a teacher like herself - indeed, one former pupil has followed in her footsteps and is now teaching Food and Nutrition.

For Madam Dewi, who taught N(T) students in previous schools but now teaches Express and N(A) classes, students in the Normal streams have as bright a future as any other. Apart from showing them the academic possibilities that lie before them, she also spends her personal time with then, for instance, communicating with students online to help them with their schoolwork. When students share their problems with her, she recounts her own experiences and offers advice accordingly.

Above all, she treats her students with respect. "Sometimes, when they break rules, I try not to punish them," she says. "I reason with them and ask them to put themselves in my shoes. I treat them as I would want to be treated if I were a student."

Jiayu is grateful for Madam Dewi. "She puts in a lot of effort for me," he says. "Last year, I was skipping her classes and was absent from school. One day she called me and talked to me about my future. I feel that she genuinely cares. From that day on, I decided to study hard. I attend all her lessons because I don't want to let her down. She knows I can't read English well and she actually simplified all the notes into mind maps to explain them to me," elaborates Jiayu.

Madam Dewi's efforts to befriend her students, to give of her time and to treat them with respect have won her the hearts of many students. And in the process, their lives and future have been transformed.