Universities, polytechnics to offer more than 300 modular courses: Heng
Students at Singapore Polytechnic. TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE – From June, there will be more than 300 modular courses available at universities and polytechnics for Singaporeans to enrol in short bite-sized classes, said Education Minister Heng Swee Keat today (March 6) in Parliament.
Speaking during the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) Committee of Supply debate, Mr Heng said that these courses will be in areas such as digital forensics and investigation offered by Singapore Polytechnic or coaching and counselling skills at Republic Polyclinic – covering key growth and priority sectors for Singapore.
More of such modular courses, which could range between 30 and 60 hours and might be evening classes, will be offered by the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and other autonomous universities like Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in the next few years
Singaporeans aged 25 and above can tap on their S$500 SkillsFuture Credit available in 2016 to enrol in these courses, which the MOE said could have entry requirements. However, Singaporeans can also select courses that eventually add up to a qualification.
There will also be efforts by the education sector to support the nationwide SkillsFuture framework. To improve collaborations between the ITEs and polytechnics with industry partners, the MOE has appointed sector coordinators for 17 industries. The five polytechnics and ITE will act as coordinators in sectors ranging from accountancy to early childhood education, and work with companies to improve students’ internship experiences and develop curriculum, among other things.
For instance, Nanyang Polytechnic will lead the retail sector while ITE will lead the Land Transport sector.
“We will study different models of learning on-the-job, explore greater use of online learning and look at innovative approaches of learning on the job,” said Mr Heng. “This is how we will help all Singaporeans to go beyond learning in school, to learning throughout life.”
Education and career guidance in schools will be improved. By 2017, there will be a professional core of career counsellors for schools to tap on, and an online portal for students to explore career choices and opportunities, said Mr Heng. “By exposing students to possibilities, we empower them to make better choices, and choose suitable pathways,” he added.
