The Quest for Quality: SkillsFuture Singapore’s Mission to Elevate Training Courses
SINGAPORE – In a bid to enhance the quality of training courses, SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) has implemented stringent measures to weed out low-rated programs and elevate standards across the board. This move comes as part of a broader effort by the national skills development body to ensure that all courses meet high-quality benchmarks.
Raising the Bar: Stricter Standards for Training Courses
Since October, SSG has introduced a new policy where courses with low ratings will face suspension for a minimum of three months. Prior to the suspension, providers are prohibited from promoting these courses or accepting new applicants. To resume offering the courses, providers must demonstrate significant improvements in course quality, as verified by SSG.
This initiative is just the beginning of a series of measures that SSG plans to roll out by 2026 to enhance the overall quality of training programs in Singapore.
Key Changes in Course Criteria
Starting from January 1, 2025, courses up for renewal must meet revised criteria, including achieving a minimum attendance rate of 75 percent. Additionally, providers are required to ensure that their courses remain relevant to the evolving needs of industries.
By June 2026, courses will be mandated to attain a minimum response rate of 75 percent in feedback surveys and must not fall into the lowest-quality category. Angela Tan, group director of SSG’s regulation and quality group, emphasized these new benchmarks in an interview with The Straits Times.
According to Ms. Tan, these measures are integral to SSG’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the quality of training courses offered under its purview.
Statistics and Impact
With over 29,000 SkillsFuture courses provided by more than 600 training providers, the impact of these changes is significant. In 2023 alone, an estimated 520,000 individuals participated in SSG-supported training programs, with approximately 200,000 being mid-career workers.
Previously, course renewal criteria focused on factors such as activity levels during the validity period and alignment with industry requirements. However, the new measures prioritize course quality and participant feedback.
Surveying Quality: TRAQOM
The Training Quality Outcome Measurement (TRAQOM) survey plays a pivotal role in determining course quality. Comprising 30 questions, the survey captures participants’ perceptions of SSG-funded courses upon completion.
Training providers offering courses with low ratings are granted a three-month period to halt marketing and enrollment for these programs. Subsequently, providers must dedicate a minimum of three months to implementing improvements before reapplying for course inclusion in the SkillsFuture directory.
Conclusion
As SkillsFuture Singapore takes proactive steps to elevate the quality of training courses, the impact of these measures is poised to raise the overall standard of skills development in the country. By emphasizing participant feedback, attendance rates, and industry relevance, SSG is paving the way for a more robust and effective training landscape in Singapore.
FAQs
What are the key changes in course criteria implemented by SkillsFuture Singapore?
- Minimum attendance rate of 75 percent for courses up for renewal
- Requirement for courses to remain relevant to industry needs
- Minimum feedback response rate of 75 percent by June 2026
- Avoidance of falling into the lowest-quality category