SkillsFuture course recommendations + learning for fun

[lee_yl]

bbbay\" post_id=\"2129438\" time=\"1708385175\" user_id=\"175278:

If I may, my perspective

The full fees of both NTUC LH and private provider are similar at around $600. both charge the same. If we believe NTUC fee as the right market rate , the private provider is charging the market rate too. And both should have the same cost to cover.

SFC can be used with both providers. If we are to look at level of SFC subsidy, NTUC LH will receive around $170 where as the private provider will receive $300. Private provider receives more than NTUC LH.

G offers community subsidies (citizen/PR status, age subsidies) to students attending courses at NTUC LH (G pay to NTUC) whereas G does not offer community subsidies to students attending courses with that private provider.

In term of total subsidy, students with NTUC are receiving $600 total subsidy from G (community subsidies+ SFC) whereas private provider is receiving $300 (SFC) subsidy from G

The private provider does not enjoy more benefits from the G than NTUC LH. And it charge the same as NTUC and have the same cost to cover. It is the students have to pay more out of pocket to the private provider. If both’s revenue still stay same (NTUC receives it via G subsidies and Private provider receive it via STC and students’ out of pocket) and cost are the same, then private provider will not have more profit benefits than NTUC LH, from anyone.

I believe private providers are to mainly serve the foreigners. And G total subsidies are much less to them than to G linked organisations .

Ok, I can see where you are coming from.

NTUC LH charges $600+ while the private training centre also charges a similar rate for a similar course outline.

$600+ is what a foreigner will be paying but since Skills Future is for Singaporeans only, the price differential is weird and opens up the opportunity for arbitrage.

What if I set up a company call KSP Cleaning, when one Singaporean auntie 40yo sign up for my toilet cleaning course at $580, I fill in her particulars and sign her up at NTUC LH for $172.80. Then I apologise profusely to the auntie that my classes are full and had coordinated with another school for her training. Since the outline of the course is similar, the auntie won’t notice

[00skyblue00]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2129449\" time=\"1708392445\" user_id=\"17023:

Good idea!!

A lot of aunties went to learn how to bake cookies, make Baos because the (commission-based?) promoters kept pushing them, telling them it’s G’s money, why don’t you utilize it. Majority of them has no intention to become Bao maker at factories after attending the Skills Future Bao making course.

There should be a mechanism to motivate (aka force) the participants to progressively upgrade themselves.

Say, make Baos or bake cookies courses belong to Group 1 (Basic). After completing group 1, the participant must choose a related course from Group 2 (Intermediate), such as food safety, hygiene or packaging course. After which, the participant can only choose a related course from Group 3 (Advanced) which is how to set up home based business, digital marketing etc.

Cannot keep learning for fun sake like bake cookies, make Baos, make kueh… just for fun. I agree one should proceed on to the next level and use the acquired skills for productive economic purposes.

Tap on the above.

One way can be, if basic skill course can be first paid by worker for certain x% (with 1-x% paid by SF) and x/2 be returned only if worker continue level 2 and x/2 be returned after level 3.
:siam:

[sharonkhoo]

00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2129476\" time=\"1708407486\" user_id=\"143605:

So, courses under different categories economics productivity vs health/lifestyle/mental wellbeing can be paid under different \"wallet\" ?
Mom vs moh vs msf.

In accounting terms, would it matter which \"wallet\" would the courses be paid under?

I don't really care about the accounting - I think keeping it all under SF is fine. My grouse is that it's so difficult to narrow down to specific types of courses - why would someone wanting to be a professional baker have to scroll through pages of courses which are targeted at hobby bakers? And why should someone who want to learn \"for fun\" have to scroll through pages of professional level courses?

Another example is a word like \"editing\". Anyone who wants to look for a course on book editing has to navigate a long list of courses for video editing, photo editing, audio editing...

[starlight1968sg]

oh, am the odd one out as I prefer non-work related activities.

[00skyblue00]

Different pay master has different kpi.

End of the day, how to measure the effectiveness of these SF courses in helping workers to progress or find new means in earning income vs those health/lifestyle courses in keeping people fit and active.

Or the measures are only the take up rate?? Hmmm…

[sharonkhoo]

00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2129490\" time=\"1708411531\" user_id=\"143605:

Different pay master has different kpi.
End of the day, how to measure the effectiveness of these SF courses in helping workers to progress or find new means in earning income vs those health/lifestyle courses in keeping people fit and active.

Or the measures are only the take up rate?? Hmmm...

There are different tranches of SF credits. I'm sure they can monitor those which are intentionally to improve work skills or employability based on the type of courses taken.

[starlight1968sg]

Rem quite some time ago, there were some service providers which simply claim the credits …

[bbbay]

lee_yl\" post_id=\"2129479\" time=\"1708408854\" user_id=\"17023:

Ok, I can see where you are coming from.

NTUC LH charges $600+ while the private training centre also charges a similar rate for a similar course outline.

$600+ is what a foreigner will be paying but since Skills Future is for Singaporeans only, the price differential is weird and opens up the opportunity for arbitrage.

What if I set up a company call KSP Cleaning, when one Singaporean auntie 40yo sign up for my toilet cleaning course at $580, I fill in her particulars and sign her up at NTUC LH for $172.80. Then I apologise profusely to the auntie that my classes are full and had coordinated with another school for her training. Since the outline of the course is similar, the auntie won’t notice

I recall reading companies have been charged ( not charge money, charged in court) for SFC related scam.

[Estéema]

There are indeed agents who try to profit fr some loopholes. I don’t respond to those agents milling ard shopping centres or stations to push for SF take up. I wld rather conscientiously plan for courses I’m find useful & am keen to do.

[zac's mum]

Bumping up this thread.

Given the recent Firstcom scam/debacle revelation, I wanted to share that our local universities actually have some decent courses that are SkillsFuture claimable. U can check out NUS School of Continuing and Lifelong Education (SCALE), NTU Academy for Professional and Continuing Education (PACE), SMU Graduate Academy. SUSS also has modular stackable post-grad courses (which run after office hours, ideal for working adults).