by Kwan Jin Yao
WHAT if lawyers and financial consultants use the new SkillsFuture Credit to study baking and cooking? Or if academics pick up acrylic painting instead? Because if deeper skills mastery and master craftsmanship are the objectives, is the G worried that the SkillsFuture would be used – with the further assumption that Singaporeans will sign up and complete their courses in the first place – for personal interests which may be perceived to be more frivolous than constructive?
And when we spoke to Acting Minister for Higher Education Ong Ye Kung, his rhetorical reply – “Who is to say that learning a particular skill, including a general manager deciding to learn art and gaining a sense of the aesthetics, is not relevant?” – seems to reflect a new approach to promoting lifelong learning. One which prioritises skills over academic knowledge in a competitive global landscape. What is more important, Mr Ong added, is a capacity to never stop learning, as well as to develop mastery in any field or sector chosen.
Therefore, the SkillsFuture Credit – through which every Singaporean aged 25 and above will be able to choose from over 10,000 skills-based courses from an online directory – should spur Singaporeans to take greater ownership of their own training and development. Enrolment into courses would not only empower broad-based learning if a person ventures into new fields, but also sharpen mastery of specific skills.
We spoke to 50 workers and asked them two questions: if they had all the time and money in the world, what training course would you like to go for, and why?
Culinary arts and computing or computer skills – such as coding and Microsoft applications – featured the most in these conversations. These courses are not necessarily taught in the schools, and many chose cooking or baking out of their personal interest. On the other hand, computing or computer skills were perceived to be useful in the future, especially with rapid technological development.
But there were also many who focused on skills development in a specific field they have been working in, or intended to specialise in. sales officer Sim Tiam Lai wanted to build on his engineering diploma and experience as a technician through a course in the PSB Academy, while security manager Ravi Arumugan wishes to get a certification in workplace safety management. “A course involving high technology key making” was the answer from key maker Dalphine Tan, while “profession-negotiating skills tactics” should be useful for sales manager Benjamin Chen, who is now working for a German chemical company.
Ms Ang Ah Kuok, 52, quality control officer.
“I want to learn computer skills in Powerpoint and Word Document. I have learned before but I am not good at it. I never practice so I forget also.”
Mr Desmond Kwa, 23, sales officer.
“If I were old enough to receive the fund, I might go further my interest in poker cards. If there are courses for that.”
Mr Sim Tiam Lai, 30, sales officer
“I will go for a course in engineering in the PSB Academy. I have a diploma in engineering so I want to earn more. I was previously a technician. If I do further studies I will probably go back to the engineering line.”
Madam Tee Ah Chu, 57, shop assistant.
“I will go for English lessons. Now my English is only basic so sometimes I have difficulty dealing with customers. I have to ask my colleagues to help me. So I want to better communicate.”
Madam Neo Geok Lau, 46, salesperson.
“I have been taking care of my mum, who has diabetics and Alzheimers. But a few times a week there would be a nurse who comes over to the house to change her dressing, take her blood pressure and to check her nutrition. If I took up a nursing course then I can do all this myself. I might even change my job after I learn it.”
Mr Teng Theng Dar, 64, business consultant
“I’m already 64 so I’ve done a lot of courses already. I can’t go back to school, but I think if I had the chance I would want to learn more about people skills. More specifically people from other countries. With that knowledge I can build on my business, and use those contacts for my business.”
Mr Chua Teck Sheng, 25, SAF regular
“Coding. It’s not something taught in school, but it’s something that I can use in the future. I think coding can help improve our way of life; I can help create applications that can help other people.”
Mr David Teo, 70, retiree.
“Even though I have retired, if I could learn new skills I would definitely take classes then go back to the workforce. I think computer skills would be most practical, like learning how to use Microsoft.”
Mr Jonathan Lew, 24, self-employed.
“I would take up cooking. I need to take it because I’m obviously bad.”
Mr Chew Seow Phuang, 60, ceramic artist.
“I would take more pottery classes to further my skills. But the $500 from SkillsFuture won’t be enough though because I want to go overseas to learn from the other masters. I’ve been to China, Australia and Taiwan. Maybe I’ll go to Bali. Each country has their own unique techniques whether it’s sculptures, pots or filing.”
Ms Vanessa Yeo, 49, financial consultant.
“I am too busy working so I’ve never cultivated the passion for cooking. So maybe if I had the time, I would go learn how to cook. Currently at home, I have a maid so she does the cooking. I’ve been a working woman all my life. Perhaps after I learn cooking then I will cook for my children.”
Madam Aisha Yassim, 51, travel agent
“I want to take culinary courses to upgrade my passion. I don’t want it to be a profession though. I want to learn how to use different temperatures, how to take care of food. I like to watch Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson on television. I especially want to learn how to make pastries and cakes. Something more relevant to my job will be to learn Japanese as my company is based in Japan. I’ve learnt the basics before so I might go for a higher level.”
Ms Lee Le Yi, 41, paediatrician
“I think for PMEs (Professionals, Managers and Executives), it depends on whether it is a skill I would like to develop outside your job. A law course might be something I might be interested in, which would develop my career. But a craft like pottery is a hobby I already have, but something more academic would be more helpful, like law.”
Mr Richard Goh, 57, IT business owner.
“I want to learn cooking. Now I have no time, but if I do, I want to help my wife cook. Now I only do scrambled eggs. If there is something I can learn that is pertaining to my job, it will be new computer programmes such as WordPress.”
Mr Aw Haw Sin, 55, driver and store keeper
“I’m very old already so learning anything new won’t help with my career as such. I just drive and manage the store here and I think the skills I have right now are enough for that.”
Ms Suraiyah Parveen, 25, police officer.
“I want to take a course in basic understanding of Law. It will definitely help in my line of work. Either that or I will do further studies in tourism management.”
Mr Ravi Arumugan, 52, security manager at Orchid Hotel.
“I will want to take a course related to my current job, like fire safety. I’ve been waiting to take it for a long time but each time I apply there is no vacancy. The course is for part-time over three months in the evening and I will get a certification in safety management. I’ve actually got knowledge about it already, but I want to enhance it. I’ve been putting it off for 20 years as I didn’t have the means or time to attend then. I’ve already taken courses in workplace safety and crisis management.”
Ms Rachel Tay, 27, programmer
“I would do a diploma in events management, or dancing such as popping or hip hop. It’s something I always wanted to learn but never had the time or money.”
Mr Eugene Lim, 25, co-founder of tech start-up
“I want to learn coding because then I can make so many things come alive, happen or work. And it is relevant to my work. i.e. I’d be able to design my own website, or code an app by myself, or even just write a script to make using Excel easier.”
Mr Timothy Lee, 25, systems adviser.
“My passion is in communications and aviation so I would take a course in communication studies. I’m not concerned about the level, whether it’s diploma or degree but the skill. I am most interested in the psychology of communications – why is info delivered a certain way. I’ve stored up practical knowledge so now I want the theoretical knowledge. As for aviation, I know how to do it theoretically but I never had a practical course. I didn’t take it up at first as I wasn’t prepared for a pilot’s roster lifestyle.”
Mr Desmond Lim, 41, rental coordinator
“I want to get a taxi license as a practical backup plan. I think the cost is about $500. Now I have no time to learn anything else because I have a family.”
Mr Koh Eng Seng, 61, taxi driver
“I will learn the guitar. I used to be in a band when I was 16 and we played in a studio. Now I have forgotten how to tune or play already. Or else I will go and learn skydiving.”
Ms Shermin Tham, 22, freelance worker at a community centre
“I would like to take courses related to music – perhaps guitar lessons. I’m interested in playing instruments but time seems to be tight.”
Mr Steven Goh, 60, volunteer at a community centre
“At my age, skills don’t really concern me. I am more interested in leisure courses like yoga, tai chi, qigong – activities for the older generation.”
Mr Daly, 31, driver
“I’ve never heard about SkillsFuture. But if I could take a course, it would have to be something related to sports. Training up my soccer skills, bike racing or perhaps sepak takraw. These are my passions.”
Madam Lisa Lee, 58, homemaker
“I have always loved the fine arts since I was young. I would like to take up pottery courses or something that helps me train my skills in the fine arts.”
Ms Dalphine Tan, 62, key maker
“I would love to take up a course related to my career as a key maker – perhaps a course involving high technology key making. I have been in key making for 40 years but I have not had time to go for the latest courses in the industry since I have many other responsibilities.”
Mr Benjamin Chen, 28, sales manager
“Something towards profession-negotiating skills tactics. I work for a German chemical company and do managerial sales, so courses like that will help me develop and do better in the profession.”
Mr Andy Fong, 35, salesperson
“I want to take up investing courses. This has nothing to do with my own job at the moment, but I want to take these up for my own financial gain.”
Mr Ng Tiak Seng, 62, part-time factory worker
“Whatever course I take has to be related to my job, and I must have some prior need or expertise in the course I take up. Age is a matter too.”
Mr Ang Chua Yong, 64, optician
“Could I spend all my money to travel? When it comes to courses, I would like to take up cooking courses – to learn how to make more cakes and kueh. Obviously, I can’t take a PhD now. You need to understand what kind of a course each individual needs.”
Mr Elvis Pereira, 43, shipyard worker
“I don’t need the money as my company already sponsors me to take up other courses. $500 is not much anyway.”
Ms Bernice Lim, 24, NIE postgraduate
“I would pick up sports related hobbies, like diving, rock climbing or bungee jumping. I wouldn’t pick up anything related to my studies.”
Mr Alfred Ng, 28, ice-cream parlour owner
“I recently picked up a gelato making course. I would like to take up a course related to dessert and pastry making because I’d like to open more ice-cream shops in the future. ”
Mr Dennis Ang, 43, hawker
“I would go for more cooking classes to learn more diverse cuisines. For practicality, I would also learn new computer skills such as Microsoft. I currently don’t know how to use them. It is very different from what I do now so I never had the chance to learn.”
Madam Mami Joy, 60, shop owner
“I love the business I am doing. I earn just about enough, but I’d like to take up a course related to online business or e-commerce. I am not good with the computer, you see! But I’ve had this shop for six years.”
Ms Melliza Quibuyen, 54, self-employed handicraft maker
“I would love to take up a baking course. I want to learn how to make cake towers with cupcakes – those three-tier kind of towers.”
Mr Chee Kim Boon, 47, traditional Chinese medicine practitioner
“I always wanted to learn the piano and guitar as it is my childhood dream. I’ve finished all my professional courses in Chinese and Western medicine already, those took six to seven years. If I had the money and time, I would learn Indian medicine also.”
Mr Jason Chua, 23. undergraduate and part-time call center worker
“I would either learn a language – Spanish, or learn an instrument – the guitar. It isn’t related to work but more for self-improvement. I’ve always thought about it but I have no money. I study psychology but I want to work in the social work industry, so if I had to pick a work-related course I would pick counselling. I would pick a work-related course if I had to choose between work and hobbies – because it’s more pragmatic.”
Ms Nur Rabiyah, 27, dispatch officer
“I would like to learn physiotherapy courses. It’s not related to my current job, but more for interest. However I would switch jobs if I get to learn physiotherapy because it’s a meaningful job and I want to help people to recover from accidents.”
Mr Chai Kong Meng, 52, incense shop owner
“I’m interested to learn more business related courses, like management. I think that any course that I take should be related to my work and help my business, and not out of interest or hobby.”
Mr Aaron Lim, 25, software engineer
“I would like to take a language course like Malay, because we are surrounded by Malay-speaking countries. It’s for personal interest. As for courses related to work, I would pick programming or coding courses. But if I were to choose one, I would prioritise work-related courses because it would help in my promotion.”
Mr Chris Tan, 50, travel agent sales officer
“I think I would take up something out of my work, for example, floral arrangement or hairstyling, because I used to be an army camp barber.”
Mdm Cheng Siew Lian, 55, provision shop worker
“I would like to take courses related to Western or Chinese-style cooking. I don’t have any interest in taking any courses related to my business or work.”
Ms Ong Siyu Kim, 33, software consultant
“I would want to do self-enrichment courses, especially communication and writing courses to help me at work, as well as project management courses. For hobbies, I would take singing, painting or drawing courses.”
Dr Yip Yeng Yoong, 57, pediatrician
“I would learn photography. I have a professional camera and the basic skills but I’ve never learned in depth. Professionally, I would just go for conferences.”
Mr Muhammad Hussein, 34, supervisor at Costa Coffee
“I want to do F&B training at the management level because it is in line with my current job. Right now I am just a supervisor.”
Mr Yoong Shu Chuang, 28, accountant.
“I might do financial courses to keep up with accounting standards. For my passion, I will take an advanced course in diving since I have basic certification already. But $500 is not enough.”
Ms Linna Tan, 48, branch manager
“I would like to take culinary courses – I’ve never taken it before because I never had time. I was an air stewardess for SIA for 20 years so I was never really around to do anything.”
Mr Muhammad Ridzuan, 24, IT engineer
“I’d probably take up IT courses like the CCIE course offered by Cisco that costs thousands of dollars. We live in a country that’s all about money.”
This series is in collaboration with Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA).
Additional reporting by Sharmeel Sidhu, Wan Ting Koh, Rohini Samtani, Clarabelle Gerard, Gillian Lim, Joshua Lim and Steven Gunawan.
Featured image by Najeer Yusof.
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