Continuing Education and Training (CET) Masterplan

In today’s economy, knowledge and skills can become obsolete so quickly that ongoing professional development or continual learning is the key to surviving and thriving in the present and the future global workplace.

It is against this backdrop that the Continuing Education and Training (CET) Masterplan was developed. WDA works together with employers to help workers make the right choices on their learning journey. The programmes form a lifelong learning system that enable workers to stay relevant, find their niche and seize opportunities in new growth sectors.

The CET Masterplan maps out investment plans on workers and the economic future that will see more training places created, from 20,000 to 80,000 in 10 year’s time and a higher education level achieved, where six out of every 10 resident workers would have at least a diploma education by 2020.

From rank and file workers to professionals and managers, CET caters and adds value to every Singaporean’s career. It is designed to be accessible and affordable, and to prepare for a new job, career switch or skills progression. Employers will also do their part to help workers update their skills and stay ahead of industry developments.

Emerging industries are not overlooked as CET brings in world-class training providers to equip Singaporeans with the skills necessary in new growth areas.

Increasingly more workers and employers are seeing the light and reaping the benefits of continuing education.

Why is the Government investing in the CET Masterplan?

The CET Masterplan will prepare Singaporean workers and industry for 2 important shifts:

• The workforce of the future nearly 60% - of our resident workforce will have at least a diploma qualification by 2020, compared to 36% in 2007.
  
  
• Emerging and growth industries - to equip Singaporeans with the skills for job opportunities in new growth industries, whether they are preparing for new jobs, switching careers or acquiring new skills for their jobs.

To support the CET Masterplan, the Government will top up the Lifelong Learning Endowment Fund by $800 million in FY08 to $3 billion, and eventually to $5 billion.

What can Singaporeans expect from the CET Masterplan?

• First-Class Providers. The CET system will involve the best private and public providers, including NTUC, the polytechnics, ITE and best-in-class overseas providers.
  
  
• 10 New CET Centres in growth areas - aerospace, precision engineering, process manufacturing (chemicals/petrochemicals, engineering services, biologics, pharmaceuticals, environmental technology), portable manufacturing skills, service professionals, logistics and supply chain management, allied healthcare, community and social services, workplace safety and health, and adult training.
  
  
• Existing CET Centres will be expanded to meet demand in growth sectors such as finance, information and communications technology (ICT), tourism and hospitality and digital media.
  
  
• Training capacity will quadruple from 22,000 workers today to 80,000 workers by 2010. This is roughly equivalent to ITE’s current training capacity.
  
  
• Institute for Adult Learning to develop trainer capability and conduct applied research into adult training, for enhanced training quality and effectiveness.
  
  
• Better integration of CET and education systems, and tripartite outreach to all workers.