SINGAPORE: Acting Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin said the government will embark on a major review of its Continuing Education and Training (CET) Masterplan.
This is to ensure workers are better equipped to handle future challenges.
Mr Tan said further consultations will be carried out in the coming months and more details can be expected towards the end of next year.
The overall aim of the current CET Masterplan - launched in 2008 - was to encourage workers to embrace lifelong learning, stay relevant and seize opportunities in new growth sectors.
However, as the world changes, Singapore must adapt and a review of Singapore's CET plans is needed.
Mr Tan said: "The review of the CET Masterplan is timely as we seek to transform our economy and help Singaporeans to fulfil their aspirations at the same time. We also seek to better anticipate some of the future challenges and uncertainties faced by our companies and workforce so that enhancements to our current CET system can be made ahead of time."
Mr Tan was speaking at the inaugural Max Talent graduation ceremony where the first cohort of 81 Professionals, Managers and Executives (PMEs) and 81 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) were presented with certificates of completion.
Some 530 PMEs have successfully been through the place-and-train programme since it was started in April last year.
These include some 120 mature PMEs.
The programme aims to secure employment for PMEs in SMEs, and to help SMEs manage their newly-hired PME staff.
The programme includes a three-day Talent workshop and be trained in essential management skills. These include leadership, problem solving and performance management skills, to help employees better adapt to and take on jobs in SMEs.
Upon completion of the workshop, PMEs will use a Talent Resource Kit to identify with their SME supervisors, relevant performance review parameters, learning and career development road maps.
Administered by the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, the association will conduct a six-month post-placement audit on the PMEs and their SME supervisors on the implementation.
"Prior to that, in this SME, they don't really go into goal-setting and performance management. After implementing this course that we learnt, everybody has got a clear direction now, from top to down," said APS Lifestyle's project sales manager Andy Loh.
The results have been good so far with over 90 per cent of employees placed remaining in their jobs.
The pilot Max Talent programme will conclude in March next year, but the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) says given the good response so far, the programme is likely to be extended. Some changes and expansions to its programme content can also be expected.
Julia Ng, senior director of workforce growth & development division at WDA, said: "(For) the three-day Max Talent training workshop for PMEs, we could include content such as workplace productivity skills, as well as work ethics and mindset change to be in line with our national push for productivity growth.
“The other aspect of the review could potentially involve having a three-day Talent Resource Kit implementation workshop for employers, so they could better enhance their HR capabilities in terms of attracting and retaining local talent and then also providing a good progression pathway for the local PMEs. "
Currently, S$8 million has been set aside for the programme.
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