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Netizens amused by ‘washrooms basic cleaning’ course on SkillsFuture
Netizens express bewilderment over “Basic Cleaning of Washrooms” course on MySkillsFuture, raising doubts about its relevance in upskilling workers amid a challenging labor market
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Last Friday (16 February), Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong announced Singapore’s 2024 Budget in Parliament.
One notable highlight in this year’s Budget is the announcement by DPM Wong that Singaporeans aged 40 and above will receive a substantial S$4,000 top-up in SkillsFuture Credits come May.
This initiative aims to motivate mid-career professionals to update their skills and advance in their respective fields.
While the standard S$500 SkillsFuture credits, available to all Singaporeans aged 25 and above, can be applied to a “wide range of courses,” the S$4,000 credit will be specifically targeted at selected training programs with superior employability outcomes.
These include both part-time and full-time diploma courses, undergraduate programs, and courses aligned with the Progressive Wage Model sectors.
The Progressive Wage Model encompasses the cleaning, security, landscape, lift and escalator, and retail sectors, all of which stand to benefit from this initiative.
Netizens bewildered by “Basic Cleaning of Washrooms” course featured on MySkillsFuture
In anticipation of the benefits arising from the enhanced SkillsFuture program, someSingaporeans have explored the available courses on the SkillsFuture website.
To their surprise, a netizen came across perplexing short courses, such as “Perform Basic Cleaning of Washrooms,” featured in the course listings.
On Monday, the netizen shared a screenshot on the Facebook group “Concerned Citizens Band Together for a Better Singapore.”
The image displayed one of the short courses titled “Washroom Cleaning” listed on SkillsFuture, with a full course fee of S$580, reduced to S$290 after SkillsFuture funding.
He mocked: “Anyone interested to pay $290 cash after SkillsFuture funding to learn how to wash toilet?”
Netizens question practicality of certain courses listed on SkillsFuture
Beyond the initial bewilderment and amusement, netizens are now raising critical questions about the practicality and relevance of such courses, particularly in the context of Singaporeans, including those who have been retrenched in mid-career.
Some are calling for a thorough examination of the courses listed on SkillsFuture to ensure their relevance and effectiveness in equipping workers with skills essential for job security.
A comment questioning the necessity of these specific courses ridiculed that Singaporean males had already been obligated to perform tasks like washing toilets during National Service.
There are even mockeries suggesting whether these courses require advanced training, diplomas, and degrees.
A discerning comment aptly pointed out a significant issue with the SkillsFuture scheme. The comment expressed the need for thorough scrutiny of the course listings, as many individuals seem not to utilize the program, finding that it does not authentically cater to their needs.
Courses claiming to equip trainees with skills to “clean toilet floors”
A search on the MySkillsFuture website unveiled a diverse range of courses, with over 10 options related to “basic cleaning of washrooms.”
Additionally, the listings included courses with titles such as “washroom maintenance,” “public hygiene maintenance,” and “food shop hygiene for beginners.”
In examining one of the course descriptions, it was outlined that this particular program enables learners to acquire the essential knowledge and skills necessary for basic cleaning of washrooms and replenishing consumables.
Upon completion of the course, the training provider claimed that participants are expected to have the capability to “remove dust, debris, soilage, and spillage from sanitary fixtures and fittings, toilet walls/partitions, and toilet floors,” as well as “clean toilet floors,” among other specified skills.
For another course titled “Food Shop Hygiene for Beginners,” the claim is that learners, after completing the 8-hour short course, will possess competence in adhering to processes and procedures for cleaning equipment and appliances, as well as properly handling waste in a food shop environment.
It’s noteworthy that this particular course has a minimum entry requirement for individuals aged 45-60 years, either with a secondary-level education or even without formal education.
WP Jamus Lim calls for bridging the gap between training and employment
Associate Professor Jamus Lim, Workers’ Party Member of Parliament for Sengkang GRC, has earlier urged refining the SkillsFuture program to better align with industry needs, ensuring that workers gain practical and experiential skills sought by employers.
A critical point raised by Assoc Prof Lim is the necessity for assurance that retraining efforts directly lead to viable job opportunities.
“This has to come from not only making sure that the SkillsFuture courses and retraining programs pursued closely align with actual business needs; it can go further to provide a soft guarantee of a job.”
To achieve this, he suggested the government establish a database of required skills, matching trainees to courses with a commitment to job placement for at least six months post-reskilling.
“To sweeten the deal on the employer side, the government can cover part of the retrained worker’s wages during this period. ”
Jamus Lim pointed out that such an approach is already in practice in several Scandinavian countries for managing unemployment.
As a nation emphasizing the importance of human capital development, he expressed hope that Singapore will progressively enhance its unemployment safety net to suit the demands of a 21st-century economy and society.
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Starting immediately, NSmen cannot clean toilets until they attain a rank of specialist sergeant in toilet cleaning!
Washing toilet is a skills for the future in Singapore that’s why pAp put it in skillsfuture.
But it is known that after most if not all the courses, most Singaporeans either remains unemployed or underemployed. So if after obtaining the cert for washing toilet and still underemployed, that’s the amusing part.
All pappies must attend the Course on Calling Voters Free Riders when Pappies candidates couldn’t get a strong mandate in elections. Free chicken rice and Milo drinks when you sign up.
It was all wayang in the first place. After these toliet cleaner jobs no local take, then they can say,you locals do not want to upgrade.
Swee. Can blame you locals 2 times while the other jobs goes to FT, without need of such ‘wayang re-training’.
It all in the show. As long as they can show with such wayang data, they can say you locals shun such jobs and shun such ‘training’!
They win liao!😆😆😆
Who are running these courses? Hopefully they are not connected to the ruling party as this will mean taxpayers’ are supporting cronyism on behalf of the PAP.
If there is NO DIRECT LINK between training and landing a job, then it is a WASTE of money and time. The only way to fix this is to get the job FIRST, then use these funds to subsidise OJT (on the job training). Didn’t Prof Lim Chong Yah say something like this years ago??
SSG never go check to certify every course. Many courses are ridiculously charged so high that anyone can learn from ebooks or online FREE!!!
Many of the courses on skillsfuture are basically wasting time and money. No certification. Most course providers are only pian-jiak pian-jiak.
Fraud & corruption will rear its ugly head later..
Too much free money floating about….for some its too much of a temptation…
This is the new driver of the economy where money can be made.
You start with the basic cleaning, then progress to intermediate and to advance if you qualify. If you passed with flying colours, you could apply for postgraduate.
VTO. VTO.
No courses on “How to remove the PAP”…???
No courses on “How to get more than 50% votes in any General Election”..?
“7 ways to check your Town council’s performance”..?
“Understanding POFMA/FICA acts for social media” ?
Courses that will command high demand and employability…
Is there any
Collect Card Borad Basic Skill .
Skill Future should add this course .
Please have really relevant courses which addresses our pressing national issues, like Course on how to make Babies in Small Spaces. Chief lecturer (with demonstration) is, of course, expected to be JT.
If Singaporeans need to attend this so called basic toilets cleaning course sponsored by Skills Future, then does it not show our education system is not up to even underdeveloped countries status.
The PAP Administration also include teaching seniors how to use What’s App, ‘safely’. Wondering how much its going to be DEDUCTED from Skills Future accounts for learning WhatsApp.