05 November 2015

A significant movement in Singapore’s educational system is SkillsFuture, a nation-wide initiative started last year to provide Singaporeans with opportunities to develop to their fullest academic and technical potential.

Ministry of Education officials have pointed out that simply having any degree won’t be sufficient in today’s world. Graduates must have the right qualifications tailor-made to enable them to go further in their chosen careers. And this must be combined with on-the-job experience.

The Earn and Learn scheme, where Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and polytechnic grads can work and further their qualifications at the same time, was one of the initiatives launched under SkillsFuture.

Mr Ong Ye Kung, the Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills), said the pathways provided under SkillsFuture are part of the Government’s effort to offer diverse choices to Singaporeans.

Since last year, the Government has taken steps to offer civil servants without degrees the same prospects as those who are university graduates. Employers should also be encouraged to change their practice of paying less to non-graduates who perform the same job as graduates. Instead, they should pay and promote based on job scope and performance.