Measures to Increase Participation Rate of PwDs in Training Programmes
Ministry of Social and Family DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns Dr Wan Rizal’s inquiry regarding measures to increase training participation rates for persons with disabilities facing health and commuting challenges. Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli B M M responded that the Open Door Programme Training Grant provides up to 95% fee funding, while the Capability Development Grant supports training providers with assistive technology. He highlighted the expansion of Enabling Services Hubs to provide bite-sized courses closer to homes, with new locations opening in Jurong West and Punggol by 2025. To facilitate travel, persons with disabilities can access public transport concessions or the Taxi Subsidy Scheme for employment-related training. These initiatives aim to expand vocational and lifelong learning opportunities to enhance independence and build essential life skills.
Transcript
28 Dr Wan Rizal asked the Minister for Social and Family Development based on the Disability Trends Report 2024, what measures are being implemented to increase the participation rate of persons with disabilities in training programmes, considering the health and commuting challenges that they face.
Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: SG Enable undertakes continuing efforts to improve access to lifelong learning opportunities for persons with disabilities to fulfil their aspirations.
To ensure that lifelong learning opportunities remain affordable and accessible, the Open Door Programme Training Grant offers employers funding for up to 95% of course fees when they send their employees with disabilities for courses curated by SG Enable's Enabling Academy, the disability learning hub.
Enabling Academy collaborates with training providers to continually expand the range of courses tailored for persons with disabilities to support their professional development and personal enrichment. Training providers can tap on SG Enable's Capability Development Grant to purchase assistive technology devices or modify their courses for persons with disabilities. The Enabling Academy also conducts regular complimentary workshops on disability inclusion. These efforts expand and diversify the vocational and lifelong learning courses available for persons with disabilities, to enable them to build essential life skills and enhance their independence.
SG Enable launched the first Enabling Services Hub (ESH) in Tampines in 2023, with two more ESHs starting in Jurong West and Punggol in 2025. The ESHs work with community partners to provide disability support and services, including continuing education and learning courses, closer to the homes of persons with disabilities. The courses are bite-sized and cover a range of topics, such as community living skills and digital literacy.
Persons with disabilities can also tap on public transport concession fares or the Taxi Subsidy Scheme for taxi transport if they are unable to take public transport, to commute to work or employment-related training.