SkillsFuture is a recent initiative launched by Singapore to be able to help its citizens get access to more opportunities to learn and study. This allows Singaporeans aged 25 and above to get access to various courses through the SkillsFuture database, all approved courses by the workforce development agency, and learn.
With credit the government gave them. Yes, we can actually be paid to study.
However, one must look at the various repercussions and opportunities of such an initiative. One must understand that the Earth has a global economy that is constantly changing. This means SkillsFuture will have to help individuals adjust to the market that is constantly shifting.
How? We should understand that the world today is also running under the notion of lifelong learning. There are no real experts anywhere, and that everyone is in a constant state of learning and self-improvement.
This is important, because Singapore has put a lot of faith in its citizens to choose careers that will make them happy. Because happy employees have successful careers.
This is also considering that globalisation worldwide relies on the rapid developments in technology. Unfortunately, our dependence to such a system has removed the tradition of innovation and working hard.
Society now has citizens that are slowly becoming too dependent on machines. In the meantime, the fast-changing market needs smart and wise minds to help direct everyone to success.
This is a new world now, and a degree and a stable job are not the norm anymore. People will have to learn how to adapt and change - hence lifelong learning. SkillsFuture will give everyone the opportunity to switch careers and risk on something new because we all deserve that chance.
Learning after all can be a dynamic process as well. A new skill focusing on leisure can even have a lot of benefits on a professional level. We have to give credit to Singapore for such a brave move.
This movement is unexpected given Singapore's history of having tight fiscal policies in the use of its budget surpluses. The government is now expecting that using this to continue education and training for everyone will increase by S$600 million per annum, and will balloon to $1 billion a year from now to 2020.
This idea is gravely honest and innovative. The mere fact of learning once more can tackle issues on productivity and unemployment. Governments have had this problem for years, especially since a lot depend on cheap foreign labor. SkillsFuture lets everyone see that fiscal expenditure is not enough to solve these problems: it's a lifelong process.
The S$500 may appear small for some, but this is a big leap for Singaporeans in the realm of lifelong learning and constantly finding things to study. Singapore now needs to embrace SkillsFuture as a good way of making everyone appreciate the value of learning new things.
SkillsFuture is a good investment and taps on the potential of Singaporeans to become a productive member of the workplace.
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