This allows them to improve on their current job, or look for opportunities in other fields. Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has established a series of roadshows to demonstrate the wonders that is lifelong learning and the potential of SkillsFuture.
Singaporeans that are either new to the job market, someone who wants to get back to work, or a retiree looking for extra sources of income may finally avail the credits and embark on a new journey to learn.
However, some wonder about the true effectiveness of part-time learning and the SkillsFuture programme as a whole.
The entire S$1-billion programme rests on the objective of ensuring Singaporeans are always ready to take on the heavy responsibility of lifelong learning. This strengthens the workplace and provides more opportunities for Singapore's workforce to be powered by professionals.
The Online Citizen quote the Strait Times in saying that the SkillsFuture scheme will allow more to finally get the nudge to explore careers they want to try out.
Others are encouraged to try new courses due to the volatility of the market. After all, if anything happens to a primary job, it is always better to find something to fall back on.
The Online Citizen said that for instance a person has always wanted to be a web designer and wants to start a career as one. He takes a SkillsFuture credit course that only takes up a few days to complete.
Regardless of whether or not he completes the course, there are a ton of other requirements before being able to land a job. There are also other instructions under the law that have to be followed.
What is sad is that a lot of people do not get to study courses they want because institutions "postpone" the course due to the lack of participants.
Even if the said candidate finishes the course, the Jobs Bank mandates employers who want to recruit foreigners to advertise the job on Singaporeans first, and there is no guarantee that Singaporeans will be hired first. This means foreigners who have just become citizens have no guarantee that the SkillsFuture programme will help them either.
If this continues, a person that was previously inspired may simply give up. This means Singapore will have to check more measures to ensure institutions are ready to hand out courses that can be taught to few people.
