Professional Skills Training Elements in SkillsFuture Courses

Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling asked the Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) (a) what percentage of existing SkillsFuture courses has elements associated with professional skills training; (b) whether customisation of courses is allowed to cater to the needs of different industries; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider a SkillsFuture package tailored for women planning to transit back to the workforce to enable them to have skills that are relevant to current market demand.

There is a wide range of skills-based courses that are eligible for the SkillsFuture Credit. As of 31 July 2016, there are over 15,000 courses listed in the SkillsFuture Credit directory. When including courses, we ensure they are skills-based, that is, they must be professionally useful to the trainee, depending on their vocational needs.

Today, the SkillsFuture Credit course directory lists courses in over 50 areas of training. These cover the key sectors of our economy. SSG is continually working with public agencies and professional bodies to include more courses into the SkillsFuture Credit course directory, so as to cater to industry demand and individuals' skills training needs.

Various segments, such as retrenched PMETs, older workers or women, will need additional support. The challenge is not the lack of training courses for them, but having effective guidance. For example, a back-to-work woman may need to sharpen her language skills, be comfortable with using IT, and learn service or manufacturing skills, before going back to work. The courses are all there, but she will need the advice and must have a positive mindset.