Tapping Skillsfuture Credits for Alternative Uses for Persons with Special Needs

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Ms Diana Pang Li Yen, Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC

Question

To ask the Minister for Education (a) whether an assessment has been made of how persons with special needs utilise SkillsFuture credits, including the proportion who are unable to do so due to cognitive, physical or accessibility barriers; and (b) whether alternative uses or conversions will be considered for such person unable to access or utilise approved training programmes.

Response

1. From 2022 to 2024, around 500 persons with disabilities benefitted each year from a range of training support offered by SG Enable and SkillsFuture Singapore. These measures include course fee subsidies of up to 95%, training allowance for placement programmes, and the SkillsFuture Credit for Singaporeans to further defray their out-of-pocket fees after training subsidies are applied.

2. In addition, SG Enable's Capability Development Grant supports training providers in adapting their training programmes to meet varied disability needs, using assistive devices and software.

3. SG Enable and SkillsFuture Singapore will work with more training providers, and actively reach out to more persons with disabilities, so that more can benefit from training. Training providers can submit their courses, including those designed to be more accessible to persons with disabilities, for consideration to be eligible for the SkillsFuture Credit, which will increase the range of SkillsFuture Credit-eligible options for persons with disabilities.