Here is an article, summarising the speech delivered by Coordinating Minister of Social Policies, Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
Even though SkillsFuture Singapore is often cited as a leading initiative to support all workers' lifelong earning endeavours, there are still challenges. Blue collar and non-professional white-collar workers, mid-career workers and those working in SMEs often have little resourcing both from individual and company perspectives, to continue on lifelong learning trajectories.
He proposed three pillars towards ensuring all workers are able to benefit from and access lifelong learning opportunities. These are:
- need to collate and make accessible, the information on anticipated skill demands across the economy.
- the system must avoid fragmentation - i.e. have myriad courses, microcredentials, awards, certificates etc. which do not 'stack' or are aligned to actual industry needs.
- the system needs to have a wider view of how credentials or qualifications are awarded - i.e. greater visibility for assessment of prior or current competencies APL, RPL, etc.
Aotearoa NZ needs to work hard on the first one as the careers advisory services are still patchy. For the other two, Aotearoa is on track. Microcredentials are recognised by the NZ Qualifications Authority and for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). The current reforms need to be cognisant of the need to ensure that the new 'skills standards are well aligned to allow for flexible pathways and that a large number of skill standards do not end up being developed).
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