Alternative Language and Oral Assessment Arrangements for Singaporeans Seeking Security Officer Licences

12 Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Senior Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs whether the Police Licensing and Regulatory Department has considered alternative arrangements for assessments for Singaporeans seeking a security officer licence, such as accepting assessments conducted in official languages other than English including via oral examinations.

Mr K Shanmugam: While on duty, security officers need to be able to communicate effectively with their interlocutors. Otherwise, there could be serious repercussions. For example, security officers will give urgent instructions if an emergency occurs. The interlocutors must be able to understand them. English is the working language in Singapore and is likely to be understood by the most number of interlocutors. If security officers communicate in any other language, the risk is that there will be more of the interlocutors who may not understand them. Training and assessments for security officers are therefore conducted in English.

Assessments for security officers are facilitative and account for varying levels of English proficiency. They are conducted using a mix of oral and written modes. The assessments have been refined over the years, including using simpler English and the addition of pictorial aids. Over the past five years, there have been very few security officers who appealed for assessments to be conducted in languages other than English. On average, the Ministry of Home Affairs receives about three such appeals out of more than 20,000 assessments conducted annually.

Security officers who need assistance in improving their English proficiency may enrol in workplace literacy courses supported by the Skills and Workforce Development Agency.