Beef up support so lifelong learning can yield payoffs

AT the recently concluded Budget debate, Member of Parliament Ang Wei Neng made the controversial suggestion that local degrees should expire after only 5 years, thereby necessitating that university graduates attend upgrading courses to refresh their skills. His proposal triggered vociferous criticism and widespread derision, leading him to clarify that he had shared it as "food for thought".

The ensuing firestorm of debate online reflects the concerns and worries surrounding lifelong learning and skills upgrading. In the face of technological transformation and pandemic-induced upheaval, working adults are understandably anxious about the enduring value of their educational credentials and hard-earned working experience. Some fret about having to constantly pursue new credentials to remain competitive on the job market, or simply not to be dismissed or displaced.

These concerns have not gone unnoticed or unsupported. In recent years, programmes in Singapore for skills upgrading have grown in size, scale and sophistication, with an expanded suite of courses offering training in emerging areas such as cybersecurity, data analytics and social media marketing. Such courses offer a clear value proposition, aligning with the country's fast growing infocomm sector. Trainees are necessarily drawn to them, enticed by the prospects that such market-relevant skills will be in great demand.