Updating Career Guidance Counsellors for Students on Industry Trends

11 Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Education (Schools) (a) how does the Ministry ensure that the teachers and career guidance counsellors deployed to our schools are kept abreast with updated industry and employment trends; and (b) what collaborations does the Ministry have with SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), Workforce Singapore (WSG) and Employment and Employability Institute (e2i) to provide an integrated career support for our students.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Ms Low Yen Ling) (for the Minister for Education (Schools)): Mr Speaker, to keep abreast of industry and employment trends, Education and Career Guidance Counsellors, or ECG Counsellors, in our schools regularly meet with industry practitioners and Government agencies at networking sessions and learning journeys. ECG Counsellors are also guided by the respective Industry Transformation Maps (ITMs) and Skills Frameworks, as well as publications by agencies that help them stay up-to-date with the emerging trends, career pathways and kind of skills in demand by various industries. With this knowledge, they are able to advise and provide up-to-date, suitable career guidance to the students.

MOE, SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and Workforce Singapore (WSG) have also developed MySkillsFuture, a one-stop ECG portal for both students and working adults. Through the MySkillsFuture portal, students gain insights into industries and occupations, as well as the education pathways leading to them. Upon graduation, students can continue to use the MySkillsFuture portal to manage their career and learning plans as they enter the workforce.

Furthermore, the Institutes of Higher Learning partner SSG, WSG and e2i to support students as they transit into the workplace. They regularly organise events, such as industry talks, pre-employment workshops and career fairs, to deepen the students' understanding of industry and career opportunities, as well as develop their job-seeking skills. These events also help to acquaint students with the services provided by SSG, WSG and e2i. We will continue to work with the agencies to expand the collaboration and increase the frequency of such activities.

Mr Desmond Choo (Tampines): I thank the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for her comprehensive answer. I have just one supplementary question. MOE has a good suite of services provided to the students. What is critical for the ECG Counsellors is also a career path that they can build on, so that they grow their industry depth and knowledge to help our students and progress with them over the years. What are the plans that MOE has to grow the careers of our ECG Counsellors?

Ms Low Yen Ling: I wish to thank Mr Desmond Choo for his very thoughtful question for the ECG Counsellors. I also want to assure the Member that ECG Counsellors are very well plugged into the latest on the various industries. So, we support them to make sure they are current and also that they are kept up-to-date and are kept abreast of the market and employment trends.

Our ECG Counsellors come with prior work experience from different sectors. When they join us, they are given professional training on education and career counselling. Even after they have joined us, we make sure that they stay updated through regular networking and sharing sessions with career coaches from WSG and e2i. We make sure that, on the job, they get the necessary support from industry, from MOE.

Each ECG Counsellor is really part of a committed team of ECG personnel, comprising teachers, class advisors and also lecturers in schools or even in post-Secondary Education Institutes (PSEIs). The ECG Counsellors are not working alone. They also have the support from the MOE Grange Road ECG Centre, especially during critical periods, such as the release of national examination results. So, they receive on-the-job support and, when they join us, we give them the professional training. We remain committed to nurturing our ECG Counsellors with regular training and also promising career prospects. As they perform in their job, we will ensure that they receive exposure and development through lateral postings across schools as well as other PSEIs. Opportunities will be made available for good performers for senior appointments, such as Senior ECG Counsellor and ECG Counselling Manager positions.

Assoc Prof Randolph Tan (Nominated Member): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to ask the Senior Parliamentary Secretary whether ECG Counsellors are able to deal with the types of questions that young people these days have about the disruptions that they are facing in the job market and whether there are any statistics or feedback about how well they are doing in meeting these concerns of young people.

Ms Low Yen Ling: I wish to thank the Member for the supplementary questions. Other than the regular sharing and networking sessions that we arrange with WSG and e2i career coaches, MOE also works with private sector and public sector agencies on a monthly basis. The ECG Counsellors will set aside at least half a day every month to attend industry networking sessions and sharing sessions. Over the last two years, we have organised more than 24 of such sessions. Some of the organisations involved include CAAS, talking about the opportunities in T4 and the new T5; LinkedIn; MOH, talking about the job opportunities made available in healthcare; and also Action Community for Entrepreneurship, so that the ECG Counsellors are well-placed to advise students who are keen on entrepreneurial pathways.

I want to assure Members that there is a robust approach as to which industry partner to work with in terms of organising the regular industry networking and sharing sessions. Typically, these partners are selected to cover a broad spectrum of industries. We have, especially, a focus on sectors with opportunities for growth and where future jobs will be. Some of the sectors that have been covered in the last two years include aerospace, logistics, social services, media, the built environment and so on.

We make sure that even after they join us, with the prior work experience that they have, the ECG Counsellors are always given regular updates on the market and employment trends as well as industrial insights.