Calvin Yang

In an effort to get Singaporeans upto speed in a world with constantdisruptions, the Government fund-ed nearly one million – 920,000 –training places last year.

This is up from 830,000 in 2015.Some 380,000 people went for

government-funded training incourses as varied as computer cod-ing and pastry-making, up from350,000 in 2015.

But even as more Singaporeansheeded the call to undergo skillsmastery and lifelong learning, mind-set change does not come easily, ob-served SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)chief executive Ng Cher Pong.

Have Singaporeans’ attitudes to-wards the perennial need to masternew skills really changed, he won-dered in an interview with the me-dia last Friday, where he shared anupdate on the progress of the na-tional SkillsFuture movement.

“Mindset change is not easy tomeasure, and it certainly won’tchange overnight,” he said. Thus,the priority going forward would beto continue finding ways to drive amindset change among Singapore-ans. “We don’t want to be blindlychasing numbers... we don’t wantto just see numbers going up but(where) at the back of it, the mind-sets haven’t really changed.”

Mr Ng said more details on engag-ing companies and individuals willbe revealed in a few months’ time.

SkillsFuture was launched more

than two years ago, as part of a na-tionwide drive to encourage Singa-poreans to continue upgradingtheir skills, regardless of wherethey started from. Mr Ng says hegives it a decent B grade, if numbersalone told of its progress.

Last year was a busy one for the na-tional drive. There was the roll-outof the SkillsFuture Credit scheme,which gives every Singaporean aged25 and older $500 credit to pay forskills courses. It was introduced lastJanuary for about 2.5 million people.

More than 126,000 people, orabout 5 per cent of those eligible,

used it in the scheme’s first year.Mr Ng said “there is really no rush

to use it”, explaining that thescheme was designed such that thecredit does not expire and will betopped up at intervals. He urged Sin-gaporeans to think carefully andnot spend the credits on any coursethat comes to mind.

Over 500 modular courses havebeen introduced at polytechnics anduniversities. These bite-sized cours-es, aimed at working adults, mayeven be “stackable” towards qualifi-cations such as degrees, he said.

All Institute of Technical Educa-

tion (ITE) and polytechnic coursesare also on track to have their in-ternship programmes enhanced by2020. These longer and more struc-tured internships have clear learn-ing outcomes and better mentor-ship, and are part of full-time diplo-ma courses, Nitec, or Higher Niteccourses. At the end of last year,two-thirds of about 290 polytech-nic and ITE courses have enhancedtheir internship programmes.

Going forward, some initiativesunder SkillsFuture will be tweaked,said Mr Ng.

In the second quarter of this year,

a one-stop online portal will belaunched to help people plan fortheir education and training needs.

More modular courses will berolled out, and there will be a great-er push for more workplace and on-line learning opportunities.

SSG will also step up advisory ser-vices to help Singaporeans navigatethe myriad pathways to reach theirpotential. Besides these, Mr Ng saidmore will be done to engage individ-uals and firms, particularly the smalland medium-sized enterprises.

calyang@sph.com.sg

The finalists for The Straits TimesSingaporean of the Year 2016 willmake a grand entrance at theaward ceremony this afternoonin a fleet of 10 Land Rovers andtwo Jaguars.

The ceremony will be held atthe UBS Business University AsiaPacific, formerly the CommandHouse, a national monumentnear Adam Road.

Built in 1938, the colonial build-ing was the official residence ofthe British General Officer Com-manding Malaya and othermilitary officials like Lord LouisMountbatten, before the Britishwithdrew from Singapore in1971.

In 1938, it hosted Singapore’sbiggest military wedding at that

time, which was attended by 400guests.

When the Istana was being reno-vated from 1996 to 1998, Com-mand House served as the resi-dence of the president.

Ms Corinne Chua, WearnesAutomotive’s general managerfor Jaguar Land Rover, said it isproud to sponsor the fleet of vehi-cles for the award.

“We recognise Singaporeans’ ef-forts and perseverance despitegreat adversity, making the com-munity a better place throughtheir selfless acts and putting Sin-gapore on the global stage with ex-traordinary achievements,” shesaid.

Yuen Sin

Mr Ng saidSKillsFuturewill betweaked. Forexample, aone-stoponline portalwill belaunched tohelp peopleplan for theireducationand trainingneeds.ST PHOTO:SEAH KWANGPENG

Yuen Sin

Executive chef Teo Yeow Siang hascooked for royalty, including Bru-nei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah andBritain’s Princess Anne, daughterof Queen Elizabeth II.

But the 40-year-old chef from ca-tering company Lavish Dine Cater-ing said it gives him “even greaterpleasure” to prepare local disheslike laksa and satay for the 12 final-ists of The Straits Times Singapo-rean of the Year 2016 award.

The winner will be announced to-day at an award ceremony attendedby Deputy Prime Minister TharmanShanmugaratnam.

Mr Teo, who led a team of six toclinch a historic victory for Singa-pore at the Culinary Olympics inGermany last October, said: “This isa form of recognition for all Singapo-reans who have worked tirelessly toput Singapore on the world mapand to those who have improvedthe lives of the less fortunate.”

Among the finalists are Olympicgold medallist Joseph Schoolingand his parents May and ColinSchooling, as well as Mr John Shu, amechanic who gave $6,000 to a sin-gle mother to pursue her education.

Mr Teo recalled how his CulinaryOlympics team paused in the middleof training to witness Schooling’s his-toric gold medal victory last August,and how that spurred them on. “Iwas inspired... Seeing him win onthe world stage made me deter-mined to win as well.”

Those at the ceremony will enjoydishes with a local spin. In additionto durian mousse cake and pandancake, they will be served nasi lemakwith sea bass from a local farm in thesouth of Singapore, said Mr Teo.

The ceremony follows a publicvote and deliberation by a panel ofjudges to decide on the award recipi-ent among the 12 candidates, orgroups, shortlisted last year.

The award, supported by bank

UBS Singapore, seeks to recogniseSingaporeans who have put thecountry on the world map, perse-vered through great adversity ormade Singapore a better placethrough selfless acts.

The ceremony will be held this af-ternoon at the UBS Business Univer-sity Asia Pacific, formerly the Com-mand House, a national monumentnear Adam Road.

Mr Tharman will present to theSingaporean of the Year a cashprize of $20,000 and a trophy. Theother 11 groups of finalists will eachreceive $5,000 from sponsor UBS.

The public vote was taken intoconsideration by a panel of 15 judg-es, including editors and writersfrom The Straits Times, as well as

figures such as social entrepreneurSaleemah Ismail, Lim Hoon Foun-dation chairman John Lim and MrAaron Maniam, founding chair-man of the National Youth CouncilAcademy’s advisory panel.

Saleswoman Noriza A. Mansor,51, who took home the award lastyear, will be meeting this year’s fi-nalists at the event. She won heartswhen she helped an elderly manwho had soiled himself in public.

yuensin@sph.com.sg

SPH Editorial Projects Unit brand manager Priscilla Tan with the RangeRover Evoque at UBS Business University Asia Pacific. Finalists of The StraitsTimes Singaporean of the Year 2016 will arrive in style for the award ceremonyin Land Rovers and Jaguars. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Mr Teo, who leda team to clincha historic win forSingapore at theCulinaryOlympics inGermany lastOctober, ispreparing disheslike laksa andsatay for the 12Singaporean ofthe Year awardfinalists attoday’sceremony.ST PHOTO:ALPHONSUSCHERN

380,000 people went for coursesin 2016; SkillsFuture chief saysmindset change remains priority

ST S’porean of the Year to be named today

Finalists to makegrand entranceat award ceremony

Govtfundednearly 1mtrainingplaces

Source: SkillsFuture SingaporeSTRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS

Enhanced Internships

65%

skills-based modular courses introduced in polytechnics and universities

500

Singaporeans

More than

126,000

18,000

of about 290 polytechnic and ITE courses offer

greater emphasis on structured learning, experience and mentorship in real work environments

40Total of

Utilised by over

Over

SkillsFuture credit-approved courses available

subsidies90%Up to

courses9,000About

Singaporeans69,000Over

Earn and Learn$

SkillsFuture Credit

$$

Skills-based modular courses

Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy$

programmes

2016: SkillsFuture year in review

A8 TOPOFTHENEWS | THE STRAITS TIMES | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 |