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SINGAPORE : A specially-tailored course called the General Studies Programme, targeted at those aged 50 and above, has been launched at the Singapore Institute of Management University (UniSIM).
The university signed a memorandum of understanding with the Council for Third Age on Monday.
Studying is what 62-year-old Jagjeet Singh helped others do for 42 years.
The ex-teacher at Temasek Primary has just retired but is starting a new career.
He is now on a three-year contract as a student counsellor, which is why he is taking up a bachelor cum diploma course in counselling at UniSIM.
Mr Singh is also the oldest student in his cohort.
He said, "I did not have the opportunity earlier on and then I went into the workforce. So I was thinking what would I do in my retirement years."
"I believed in self actualisation, although I had a good career as a teacher and a head of department in English at the school. Then I said to myself, with all the knowledge that I have, how do I pass it on? So I thought that counselling was a good platform for me to do just that."
Meanwhile, former TV actor Mak Ho Wai has just completed a Masters of Arts in Chinese Language and Literature at UniSIM, while hosting the MediaCorp Channel 8 programme, the Golden Age Show.
Mr Mak, who is 61, said, "When you are older, it's easy to absorb the learning. The problem is it's easy to forget. But the (learning) is still there, so seniors have the advantage.
"Names, numbers, and sentences will be easily forgotten. But the real meaning behind what we have read will also be remembered, because we have had more experience and can understand better. So it's not a problem for seniors to study."
Joining Mr Mak to hit the books again are about 180 students above the age of 50, who are doing undergraduate courses at UniSIM.
And more seniors are set to go back to school with the MOU, which launched the General Studies Programme.
The programme offers 150 courses from various disciplines including business, engineering, languages and fine arts.
It will take in only students who are at least 50 years old, from next January. Those aged between 50 and 59 will get a 10 percent concession, while those above 60 will enjoy a 20 percent discount.
Minister Lim Boon Heng said, "It's too early to talk about subsidies because I think providing such opportunities does not necessary mean that it has to be a high cost. There is a lot more that can be done to see how we can deliver such courses at a price which the seniors can afford."
UniSIM is allocating 500 places for the newly-launched programme. - CNA/ms
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