Singapore Polytechnic marks upcoming 70th anniversary with book documenting its journey

31 Oct 2023

In just five years, SP tripled the number of lecturers teaching adult learners, as the country’s first polytechnic expanded its mission to train not just younger school-leavers before they hit the workforce, but working adults looking to reskill as well. By 2021, 73 per cent of SP’s lecturers conducted lessons for adult learners – up from 25 per cent in 2016. The polytechnic also more than doubled the number of hours spent in training by all continuing education and training (CET) participants to 2.13 million in 2021. These trends are highlighted in a book, For All Ages, Singapore Polytechnic At Seventy, which commemorates the polytechnic’s upcoming 70th anniversary in 2024. The book, launched at a ceremony on Tuesday, reflects on its journey and role in shaping polytechnic education here, alongside the four other polytechnics – NYP, NP, RP and TP. SP principal Mr Soh Wai Wah said it has been “a major transformation” as IHLs shifted towards serving working adults in the past decade, from catering mainly to fresh school-leavers initially. He also expects to see more working adults return to the polytechnic sector, with the Government indicating in its recent Forward Singapore report unveiled on Oct 27 that Singaporeans who already hold a publicly funded diploma or higher qualification will get help with obtaining another subsidised diploma. On Tuesday, SP also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Singapore National Employers Federation, to connect polytechnic and ITE students with potential employers across 16 sectors, such as manufacturing and maritime. This will see a new centre (SP-SNEF) set up at SP from 2024 to hold exhibitions and workshops that will be open to students from other institutions as well as mid-career switchers. Similar news reported in Lianhe ZaoBao, 8World, Channel News Asia, Channel 8, Channel U, Vasantham, Capital95.8, Hao96.3fm, Ufm100.3 and Yes93.3fm.

[The Straits Times]