WDA chief appointed SkillsFuture Singapore CEO

NG Cher Pong, chief executive officer of Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), has been appointed CEO of the newly established SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG), which will include the Council for Private Education (CPE).

The Ministries of Manpower and Education said in a joint release that if Parliament passes the Bills and the President gives his assent, SSG is expected to be established in the fourth quarter of 2016.

The new Workforce Singapore (WSG) under the Ministry of Manpower, which will include WDA, is also expected to be set up around the same time.

Earlier in January, it was unveiled that the two new statutory boards - SSG and WSG - will be established to drive and coordinate implementation of the national SkillsFuture initiative, as well as ensure competitiveness and quality jobs for Singaporeans over the long term. Mr Ng will also be appointed deputy secretary (SkillsFuture) at MOE.

Tan Choon Shian, principal and CEO of Singapore Polytechnic (SP), will assume the role of WSG's CEO when it is established. Mr Tan will be appointed CEO (designate) of WSG with effect from Aug 1, 2016 to oversee preparations for the establishment of WSG.