Statistics on Approved Training Organisations (ATOs), Public and Inhouse ATOs and Inhouse ATOs

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh Pei Siong asked the Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) (a) what is the current number of approved training organisations (ATOs), public and inhouse ATOs, and inhouse ATOs respectively; (b) what is the number of WSQ trainees who have completed courses offered by each of the three types of ATOs in 2016; and (c) how will the SkillsFuture movement expand to employer-led and employer-owned training.

As of end 2016, there are 419 Approved Training Organisations (ATOs) that are delivering Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) training. Of these, 154 are in-house ATOs, 144 are public ATOs and 121 are both public and in-house ATOs.

For the first three quarters of 2016, a total of about 229,000 unique local trainees completed WSQ training. The number of local trainees who completed WSQ training within each category of ATOs are as shown below.

Historically, Continuing Education and Training has emphasised employers training their employees. It was only much later, after the setting up of Lifelong Learning Endowment Fund, that the Government also promoted individual-initiated training. Employers will continue to play an important role in training and skills development of the workforce and this has been a priority for SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG).