Irfan Bin Ismail
Meet Irfan Ismail, Singapore's first PE Master Teacher on the MOE Teaching Track, whose work spans movement science, sport performance, and innovative teaching approaches.
Irfan Ismail (Master Teacher)
Irfan Ismail was appointed as a Physical Education (PE) Senior Teacher in 2010 and became the first PE Lead Teacher in 2013. In 2024, he joined PESTA as a Master Teacher (MTT), making him the first PE MTT to rise through the MOE Teaching Track. Prior to joining PESTA, Irfan spent 4.5 years on secondment as a Teaching Fellow at the National Institute of Education (NIE) Physical Education and Sports Science Academic Group.
Irfan holds a Masters in Exercise and Sports Performance from The University of Sydney and a Doctorate in Education from Nanyang Technological University. His area of interests includes the functional role of movement variability, performance analysis in sport, Nonlinear Pedagogy, and the application of a constraints-led approach to teaching and learning.
Irfan strongly believes that teachers should act as learning designers. A well-crafted learning design should be engaging, interactive, and relevant to the learner. It should also allow learners to explore available information, experiment with concepts, and apply knowledge.
Irfan has represented Singapore in futsal and has also played in the local professional football league. He is a qualified football coach, holding the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) B Coaching Certificate. In his leisure time, he enjoys participating in physical activities with his family, such as hiking, cycling, and playing football.