Debated in Parliament on 6 Nov 2023.
Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui asked the Minister for Education how does the Ministry currently monitor the learning and industry relevance outcomes of Continuing Education and Training programmes.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) adopt a variety of methods to measure and monitor the outcomes of SkillsFuture-funded Continuing Education and Training (CET) programmes.
Wage and employment outcomes are the most concrete and quantifiable way to measure the learning and industry relevance of skills training. We work with partners, such as the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), to monitor these outcomes through programme-specific surveys and econometric studies. For example, the annual Work-Study Programme Outcomes Survey (WSPOS) has consistently showed that more than 90% of the trainees were employed within six months of completing the programme. Their median salaries were also higher than what they received at the start of the programme. A 2018 study conducted by MTI also showed positive effects of the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualification (WSQ) training on employment and wages.
However, wage and employment outcomes do not always tell us the full picture. Reskilling may have helped workers, who were otherwise at risk of displacement, keep their jobs or take on new job roles. As such, MOE and SSG take a broader view of the impact of the SkillsFuture movement, including through monitoring whether workers find that training helps them to be more effective at their jobs. The Training Quality and Outcomes Measures (TRAQOM) survey, administered by SkillsFuture Singapore on courses that it funds, found that more than nine in 10 trainees said that they saw an improvement in work performance and were able to take on enhanced responsibilities at work.
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