Kumaran Arumugam has been awarded the International Icon Awards 2024 in the category of “Young Teacher of the Year Award 2024.” This recognition is a significant testament to his contributions to developing physical education for various disabilities in Singapore. Since 2012, he  has been dedicated to supporting children with special needs, starting his journey as a sports coach and physical education teacher. He sacrificed his footballing dreams at a young age to pursue a diploma and become a full-time educator in physical education.

Over the past few years, he  has held several key leadership roles, including Assistant Head of Department (Sports), Head of Department (Physical Education), Subject Lead (Physical Education/CCA), and Director of Sports for various schools and organizations. At just 27 years old, he became the youngest head of department in the Committee for Private Education (CPE) Singapore, leading his departments to achieve significant successes in the education industry.

One of his  notable achievements includes securing a shoe sponsorship in 2019 for 200 students from low-income backgrounds, ensuring they had proper footwear for sports and physical activities. He has also been invited by various educational centers to conduct talks and workshops on working with students with special needs. His collaboration with the Singapore Taekwondo Federation provided opportunities for para-athletes, including students with hearing loss and visual impairment, to compete in taekwondo competitions.

In 2023, he  collaborated with the Singapore Disability Sports Council and Certis Cisco to launch the GoalBall29 program, aimed at identifying and inviting potential players to join the Goalball National Team in preparation for the ASEAN Para Games in 2029. He played a pivotal role in the Singapore Para Athletes Track and Field 2024 event, where students from Lighthouse School, whom he trained over six months despite undergoing knee surgery, won multiple gold medals. The school won Best Overall Performing School in four different categories: under-10, under-13, under-15, and under-17 age groups.

As an athlete, he  has played semi-professional football for the past 13 years in Singapore’s lower leagues, such as the National Football League and Islandwide League, representing various clubs. He currently plays for Yishun FC in the FAS Islandwide League 2024. He uses the lessons he learns in football to motivate his students to become athletes, improve para sports in Singapore, and represent the country internationally.

His  efforts to enhance disability sports and physical education have gained significant attention both locally and internationally. He has received multiple accolades, including the People’s Choice Community Changemaker of the Year, the Asian Education Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Adaptive Physical Education and Excellence in Special Educational Needs Teaching, the Asia Awards for Asia’s Inspiring Icon Award in Sports and Physical Education, and the Asia Excellence Choice for Leadership and Dedication in the Sports Industry for Children. Additionally, he has won the Global Recognition Award in Special Education.

 

He  has been offered a scholarship by an overseas university to pursue a Master of Arts in Education with Special Education and a Doctorate in Education (Special Education). With these advanced qualifications, he hopes to leave a legacy that inspires future educators and encourages more teachers to drive change in the special needs sector.

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