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| Upgrade yourself: 10 core employability skills to acquire |
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Developed by the Singapore Workforce Development Agency
(WDA) as part of its National Continuing Education and Training
Framework initiative, the Employability Skills System (ESS) is a modular
competency-based training programme.
It is designed to equip Singaporean workers with generic and portable
skills to better adapt to new job demands, work challenges and the
changing work environment.
The ESS programme covers 10 core employability skills. It is organised
into 10 modules and offered at 3 levels, that is, the operations,
supervisory and managerial levels.
Officers at the operations level will be awarded the Career
Readiness Certificate (CRC) when they attain Level 6 (workplace
literacy and numeracy), which means they have gained English
and Mathematics knowledge equivalent to the upper secondary
standard. In addition, they must also attend and pass
the assessments for seven work skills-related modules.
Offices at the supervisory and managerial levels need
to attain Level 8 and also attend and pass the assessments
for seven work skills-related modules to get the CRC.
The Public Service Division (PSD) has adopted the ESS as a core
programme for all Division 3 officers in the generic schemes of service.
Division 2 officers, especially those who do not hold a diploma or
degree, and suitable Division 4 officers are also encouraged to attend
the programme.
ESS is a useful platform for public officers to upgrade themselves. As
part of the national training system, it also enables them to acquire
skills that are recognised by both the public and private sectors, and
instils the mindset for continuous learning.
Ms Michelle Leow, Senior Manager (Personal Development
and Effectiveness), Institute of Public Administration
and Management (IPAM), Civil Service College, said: “ESS
builds on previous experience with BEST, WISE literacy
programmes and CREST critical skills programme. It is
contextualised to the workplace for better application,
compared to other courses that are workplace-related without
contextualisation like CREST, or too academic like BEST
and WISE.
“Another key difference is that ESS is
competency-based and one’s ability
to perform the skills is assessed. There
is also flexibility with on-the-job
training, part-time learning and no
time limit to attaining the CRC.”
Officers from several agencies have already attended the
training modules. Said Ms Hariati Samuri, Human Resource
Officer from the Ministry of the Environment and Water
Resources, who took the Personal Effectiveness module:
“I have become more aware of how I can apply the tips
and principles taught not only to my personal life but
also to my daily work. For instance, although I have some
prior knowledge of how to handle documents, I felt that
this course helped to retain and reinforce my knowledge
and skills in this area, hence helping me to become more
efficient in my work.”
Mr Thomas Sim, Human Resource Officer from PSD, went for two modules
and is looking forward to attending more modules and achieving the CRC.
He said: “With ESS, I am now more confident about staying employable
as I have acquired a set of portable skills to better adapt to new job
demands, work challenges and the changing work environment.” |
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By Patricia Lim, Public Service Division
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