Beyond The Classroom musical traces ITE alumni's success journeys

Back in the 1970s, when playing football overseas seemed far-fetched, Fandi Ahmad became the first Singaporean to play professionally in the Netherlands.

- Emerald Lo

This was possible because of the support of his teachers at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), formerly known as the Vocational and Industrial Training Board.

His story continues to be an inspiration for ITE students today.

One such student is Mr Mohammed Irfan Mohammed Rizal, 21, who aspires to become a professional beatboxer and represent Singapore in overseas competitions.

"Even though our hobbies are different, the energy and passion is there. For Fandi Ahmad, he is willing to do anything to achieve success in football because of his love for the sport — I relate to that," the recent graduate with a Higher Nitec in film-making (cinematography) said.

To honour the achievements of its alumni and celebrate SG60, ITE staged its ninth musical, Beyond The Classroom, at the ITE headquarters in Ang Mo Kio.

The two-day performance ended on July 12.

The musical was in four acts, each tracing the journeys of three alumni — Fandi, lawyer Kawal Pal Singh and actress Siti Khalijah Zainal — and fictional character Siew Lan from their days in ITE to their accomplishments and jobs. Siew Lan represented lecturers who were once ITE students and who returned to ITE to teach.

ITE's musicals, which it began staging in 2002, used to be adaptations of Broadway productions. Since 2015, the focus has shifted to works by in-house talent.