Alternative Pathways for Students Required to Leave School Before Completing National Certifications

Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament

Ms Yeo Wan Ling, Punggol GRC

Question

To ask the Minister for Education in respect of students who are required to leave school before completing their national certifications, what alternative education, training or reintegration pathways does the Ministry provide to ensure they are not left without viable progression options.

Response

1. It is our goal for all Singaporeans to have education, training or reintegration pathways through life, regardless of when or how they left school.
2. And those who wish to continue their education may approach the school in which they were last enrolled. Alternatively, they can approach the Ministry of Education's Education and Career Guidance Centre for advice and guidance on suitable educational pathways. If they are assessed to be age-appropriate for re-admission, they can be enrolled at a secondary school. The receiving schools may assess these students and provide bridging programmes to smoothen their transition back into mainstream education.
3. While for students who prefer other education and training options, there are also alternative pathways. So, students with minimal academic qualifications can consider the Institute of Technical Education General Education programme, which allows adult learners to obtain their GCE "N" or "O" Levels. This, in turn, then allows them to subsequently enrol in Higher Nitec and Diploma programmes in our Institutes of Higher Learning.
4. SkillsFuture Singapore also provides subsidies for a wide range of industry-relevant training programmes to meet the upskilling needs of Singaporeans throughout their careers, regardless of their education or academic qualifications.