Objective Assessment of SkillsFuture Courses

3 Ms Sun Xueling asked the Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) (a) whether courses allowed under SkillsFuture are objectively assessed by the authorities as to how much they should cost and whether there is a negotiation process with training providers to keep course fees reasonable; and (b) whether there is an assessment of the courses to ensure that there are sufficient courses that can lead to tangible economic value-add for individuals rather than simply satisfying hobbies.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministers for Education (Ms Low Yen Ling) (for the Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills)): Mdm Speaker, SkillsFuture is a national movement to encourage the pursuit of skills mastery. It involves building up multiple pathways of progression, starting from schools and extending to our Post-secondary Education Institutes (PSEIs); developing new ways of education and training, including blended learning, extended internships and cooperation with industries; scaling up lifelong learning opportunities by expanding course offerings at every stage of a person's life. We are also planning on a major outreach programme called SkillsFuture Engage.

The SkillsFuture Credit is one part of the SkillsFuture movement to empower individuals to take ownership of their skills development and lifelong learning journey.

So, while training programmes offered by the Continuing Education and Training (CET) Centres and PSEIs are developed in close collaboration with industries with a strong focus on employment outcomes, the SkillsFuture Credit covers a much larger range of courses because part of its purpose is also to raise awareness of the importance of lifelong learning and skills mastery.

Nonetheless, as part of the approval process to include a course under SkillsFuture Credit, SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) examines proposed course fees, using industry benchmarks and funding caps to ensure that they are reasonable relative to other similar courses.

SSG, together with various supporting public agencies, also assess that SkillsFuture Credit courses are skills-based and relevant to industry or an individual's professional development. Many of these courses, such as those offered under the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) framework, go through a structured and rigorous industry-validation process.

But given that we take a deliberately inclusive approach for courses under SkillsFuture Credit in view of its promotional objective, and we reach out to all Singaporeans − young, mature, retired − it is inevitable that some Singaporeans will go for training not related to their careers. However, that is part of the outcome of the empowerment of individuals and their holistic development.

Mdm Speaker: Ms Sun Xueling.

Ms Sun Xueling (Pasir Ris-Punggol): I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for her answer. I took a look at the SkillsFuture portal. Of the top eight most popular courses, six deal with health and fitness, baking, Korean language, sewing and photography. They appear to be courses for the pursuit of hobbies, even though they can be counted as part of lifelong learning. My question in the Parliamentary Question is more that, given that Government monies are being used for SkillsFuture Credit, can more be done to ensure that the courses being provided are ultimately bound to our pursuit of economic value-add for society?

Ms Low Yen Ling: Madam, I want to thank Ms Sun Xueling for her supplementary question. I want to reassure her and Members that when approving SkillsFuture Credit courses, we take into careful consideration whether it is skills-based and relevant to industry needs.

The Member cited some courses. Madam, allow me to list out the top 10 areas of training in February 2017 by number of claims. The first was information and communications; second, food and beverages, third, language skills; fourth, service excellence; fifth, security and investigation; sixth, personal development; seventh, productivity and innovation; eighth, advertising, sales and marketing; ninth, leadership and people management; tenth, business management.

There are more than 50 areas of training and we will stop at the top 10. Sharing the list is to assure Members that when we select these courses, together in partnership with the supporting public agencies, we look closely at whether it is skills-based and whether it is relevant to industry. That being said, earlier, I mentioned that SkillsFuture Credit courses also serve to empower Singaporeans in their lifelong learning journey and holistic development. Singaporeans are able to opt for approved courses that are not directly related to their vocations or careers. But they are perhaps learning it as they are planning to move into adjacent growth areas or they are learning it because they would like to whet their appetite before they start up their own bakery shop, for example.

I want to assure Ms Sun Xueling and Members that as part of the evaluation process, we look at industry relevance, and SkillsFuture Credit eligible courses also undergo an industry validation process. As I had mentioned earlier, courses under the WSQ framework are pegged to industry needs and standards. SSG does not do this in isolation. SSG involves industry representatives who identify the skill needs in the respective sector and validate the skill standards.

Mdm Speaker: Ms Sun Xueling.

Ms Sun Xueling: Just one additional clarification question. Of the top eight courses that I had mentioned, one data analytics course costs $1,326. I was thinking that, specifically for some courses that have a particular pertinence given the Committee on the Future Economy's recommendations, can more be done to subsidise such courses beyond the $500 SkillsFuture Credit?

Ms Low Yen Ling: I want to thank Ms Sun for her supplementary question. I want to assure her and Members that many of the courses are already highly subsidised by the Government to ensure that education and training courses are affordable and accessible. The $500 Credit can be used, on top of the course fee subsidies provided by the Government.