SkillsFuture course recommendations
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lee_yl\" post_id=\"2129304\" time=\"1708238081\" user_id=\"17023:
Unsure why these course are such expensive. Just bec skillsfuture credits can be used? Then this is a pure waste of resources.
https://www.myskillsfuture.gov.sg/content/portal/en/training-exchange/course-landing.html
Lots of courses to choose from (please see the above link).
It’s weird to know that a training course to teach one how to wash toilets (basic) can cost $870! 😂 Then I can l be a trainer too cos I teach my helpers how to wash toilets for 20yrs already. I can also teach people how to make cookies (course fees at $870)
I am not saying Skills Future is a bad idea but I think need some careful audit to ensure that our taxpayers’ money is not being wasted. -
starlight1968sg\" post_id=\"2129316\" time=\"1708252898\" user_id=\"14025:
To be fair, the trainers are often highly qualified and taking time off their regular work or are full-time trainers, there are preparation & testing costs, IT costs, if they are in-person, there are venue costs, etc. Even engaging a tuition teacher one-on-one for 1 hr already costs $50-$100 per hour (I may be out of date?). We can't expect the training to be so cheap. When we take in-house courses provided by employers, they also cost quite a lot except that we don't notice it because we don't get charged.
Unsure why these course are such expensive. Just bec skillsfuture credits can be used? Then this is a pure waste of resources. -
slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2129318\" time=\"1708253379\" user_id=\"28674:
You’re right.
To be fair, the trainers are often highly qualified and taking time off their regular work or are full-time trainers, there are preparation & testing costs, IT costs, if they are in-person, there are venue costs, etc. Even engaging a tuition teacher one-on-one for 1 hr already costs $50-$100 per hour (I may be out of date?). We can't expect the training to be so cheap. When we take in-house courses provided by employers, they also cost quite a lot except that we don't notice it because we don't get charged.
To teach baking, at home there’s no venue cost when I teach fr residential, I’ve to prepare all ingredients myself, use my own eqpt/utencils which all reduces costs by a big margin. But there’s no economies of scale. At training centres, there are staff who get the classrooms ready & help with prepping materials & registration, unlike the 一脚踢 sole-hometrainer.
With the use of SkillsFuture, participants are required to log in for attendance twice a day for accountability & hence an administrator is hired for this purpose at centres. One perks for participants are snacks & s’times meals are provided. These are costs for the training operators. -
If one checks some courses offered by PA at various Community Clubs like cooking, active aging programs etc., they are cheaper.
Will you go and learn how to bake cookies or how to wash toilets at $870, if there is no Skill Future credits?
Frankly, if Skill Future credits can be used to offset my kids’ 1-1 personal tuition and I only co-pay 25%, I also find tutor’s $50-$100 per hour published rate very reasonable.
Again, maybe it’s not fair to say that all the courses are not value for money but we can’t say there is no black sheep among these trainers. That’s why I hope there is some audit by the relevant authorities. Ultimately, 羊毛出在羊身上 -
Toilet cleaning course outline :
https://www.ntuclearninghub.com/en-gb/-/course/washroom-maintenance-perform-basic-cleaning-of-washrooms-clpbcw
My interpretation of why they are expensive:
- students are taught to work in wide area of settings, all types of toilet setting out there. There are more to learn than washing our typical, narrow residential toilet setup most of us are only accustom to washing
- these workers can be expected to clean many toilets (maybe 20 toilets per day) actual work setting next time when they return to their station. They are taught additional skill to clean efficiently.
- learn to handle industrial grade, cleaning equipment/chemical for cleaning efficiency, which can be tricky and cause health hazard, if not trained well to handle them
- these courses produce ready workers upon completion of course, not just workers that only learn theory. In the course of learning, there may be lots of practices, feedbacks for corrections by trainers. All for the purpose of becoming productive right after course completion.
- the trainers and training company are pro, with up to date knowledge of industry best practices to be in the position to impact knowledge to students
- cleaning chemical will be expended during practices. Multiple cleaning equipments have to be procured for students’ hands on. All these are costs.
- high cost training spaces are purpose build and renovated solely only to conduct courses. I recall my home toilet short length re piping cost me $1200
I believe, these workers can clean faster and better than us cleaning our residential toilet after completing these courses. Our home toilets are used by a few person. Office/shopping centre toilets are used by hundreds of people. The amount of works/scenarios entailed will be different, and call for different level of skills -
That’s why we have several service providers and as consumers we can choose wisely. Can do some research, read reviews on course and trainers, compare content and prices.
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lee_yl\" post_id=\"2129325\" time=\"1708267990\" user_id=\"17023:
It all comes down to standards. For \"hobby\" courses, the trainer's qualifications are not probably not that important. Someone with years of doing that hobby will be adequate. But for \"work\" courses, training providers and employers have higher standards as to who qualifies to be a trainer, especially if the course will lead to certification and increased pay or a new job. I'm fairly sure that the course fees are audited before the training providers are listed on SkillsFuture, and while they aren't cheap, I don't think they could be much cheaper without compromising on quality. If someone here is in HR/training in an organisation, maybe they can give the latest info on how much inviting a trainer to conduct in-house courses cost?
If one checks some courses offered by PA at various Community Clubs like cooking, active aging programs etc., they are cheaper.
Will you go and learn how to bake cookies or how to wash toilets at $870, if there is no Skill Future credits?
Frankly, if Skill Future credits can be used to offset my kids’ 1-1 personal tuition and I only co-pay 25%, I also find tutor’s $50-$100 per hour published rate very reasonable.
Again, maybe it’s not fair to say that all the courses are not value for money but we can’t say there is no black sheep among these trainers. That’s why I hope there is some audit by the relevant authorities. Ultimately, 羊毛出在羊身上
And we in Singapore are so fortunate that we actually get given funds and subsidies to take such courses! If I were 20 years younger, I would certainly do some longer and more \"serious\" ones. But over 50 or so, the investment (time and effort, not so much the money) in longer courses with certification didn't seem worthwhile, especially since I didn't have the runway to get established in a new area. And I'm 60 now - so I'm more on the lookout for less \"serious\" courses now. -
00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2129331\" time=\"1708301559\" user_id=\"143605:
I do wish that SkillsFuture could do something to improve their website. I find that there are too many courses listed, not enough ways to filter and compare, and it's just really difficult to find the \"right\" course! Surely they can do something about it.
That's why we have several service providers and as consumers we can choose wisely. Can do some research, read reviews on course and trainers, compare content and prices. -
slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2129332\" time=\"1708302495\" user_id=\"28674:
Even if I am doing non work related courses , but they are still skill based courses and hence included in the programme. I still would expect them to be of certain standard. Skill future credits are tax payers money, we have the right to expect what we see is in course outline is what we get end of course.
It all comes down to standards. For \"hobby\" courses, the trainer's qualifications are not probably not that important. Someone with years of doing that hobby will be adequate. But for \"work\" courses, training providers and employers have higher standards as to who qualifies to be a trainer, especially if the course will lead to certification and increased pay or a new job. I'm fairly sure that the course fees are audited before the training providers are listed on SkillsFuture, and while they aren't cheap, I don't think they could be much cheaper without compromising on quality. If someone here is in HR/training in an organisation, maybe they can give the latest info on how much inviting a trainer to conduct in-house courses cost?
And we in Singapore are so fortunate that we actually get given funds and subsidies to take such courses! If I were 20 years younger, I would certainly do some longer and more \"serious\" ones. But over 50 or so, the investment (time and effort, not so much the money) in longer courses with certification didn't seem worthwhile, especially since I didn't have the runway to get established in a new area. And I'm 60 now - so I'm more on the lookout for less \"serious\" courses now.
Most impt is what the course says it will be providing, it really delivers.
Baking courses are not only for hobbies. One can start small home based business making cookies.
Even though I was taking intro painting lessons, I do not take it any less seriously. Hence i do not wish to waste my time attending lessons provided by mediocre, just otot type. -
00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2129335\" time=\"1708305441\" user_id=\"143605:
Some people don't want to spend too much, and are happy with less onerous courses if it's to be a hobby. Essentially, you get what you pay for, and people should understand that a course with the same title, but with shorter hours and a less-highly qualified trainer will deliver less. It's good to have a range as not everyone wants to pay more for the higher standards, and are happy with less.
Even if I am doing non work related courses , but they are still skill based courses and hence included in the programme. I still would expect them to be of certain standard. Skill future credits are tax payers money, we have the right to expect what we see is in course outline is what we get end of course.
Most impt is what the course says it will be providing, it really delivers.
Baking courses are not only for hobbies. One can start small home based business making cookies.
Even though I was taking intro painting lessons, I do not take it any less seriously. Hence i do not wish to waste my time attending lessons provided by mediocre, just otot type.
It's true that SkillsFuture, being taxpayers money, should deliver a certain standard of product. But courses at a lower level and intensity, e.g. those for people who want to take a up a new hobby or explore a new area, are still useful and worthy of support, and cheaper! And now SF has different tranches, some limited to only certain types of courses targeted at improving employment and earnings. Only a smaller portion now can be spent on \"lesser\" courses.
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