1. SOIL TESTING -
Development of VTE
Before Formation of ITE
(1964 – 1992)
A World-Class Vocational Technical Education System In Time For The Future
– The Singapore Experience

2. LABOUR-INTENSIVE ECONOMY (1960s – 1970s)
Independence & Early Industrialisation (1960s – 1970s)
Singapore’s Economic and Manpower Strategies
• Create employment through industrialisation
• Attract foreign investment for export-oriented and labour-
intensive manufacturing
• Ensure workforce has basic skills to support labour-
intensive manufacturing activities (eg. ship repairing,
turning and fitting, sheet metal work, radio & TV maintenance
and repair)
A World-Class Vocational Technical Education System In Time For The Future
2 – The Singapore Experience

3. VTE STRATEGIES FOR
LABOUR-INTENSIVE ECONOMY (1960s-1970s)
> Basic Skills Training for Early Industrialisation
• 1964 : Setting up of First Vocational Institute within the School
System (Balestier Trade School was reorganised into Singapore
Vocational Institute)
• 1968 : Formation of Technical Education Department (TED) under
Ministry of Education (MOE)
• 1969 : Transfer of Apprenticeship Schemes from Ministry of Labour to
TED
Balestier Singapore Visit to Industry by Metal Fabrication and Metal Machining at Precision Engineering course
Trade School Vocational Institute TED’s Director Singapore Vocational Institute (SVI) open to girls at Pasir Panjang VI
A World-Class Vocational Technical Education System In Time For The Future
3 – The Singapore Experience

4. VTE STRATEGIES FOR
LABOUR-INTENSIVE ECONOMY (1960s-1970s)
> Structured Pre-Employment Skills Training for Rapid Industralisation
• 1973 : Formation of Industrial Training Board (ITB)
• 1973 : Implementation of National Trade Certificate (NTC) at 3 levels:
semiskilled (NTC-3), skilled (NTC-2) and master craftsman (NTC-1)
• Wide range of courses to support emerging industries (eg. Electrical and
Electronics, Metal and Mechanical Engineering, Heavy-duty Diesel and
Motor Vehicle Mechanics)
• Setting up of Joint Government Training Centres (GTC) by Economic
Development Board (EDB) (eg. Tata-GTC, Rollei-GTC and Philips-GTC)
Fashion Art & Tailoring Mechanical Servicing Motor Vehicle Mechanics Heavy-duty Diesel Mechanics
Tata-Government Training Centre
at Baharuddin VI at Geylang Serai VI at Singapore VI at Bukit Merah VI
A World-Class Vocational Technical Education System In Time For The Future
4 – The Singapore Experience

5. VTE STRATEGIES FOR
CAPITAL-INTENSIVE ECONOMY (1980s)
> Mass Skills Training and Workforce
Development
• 1979 : Amalgamation of ITB with Adult Vocational & Industrial
Training Board (VITB)
Education Board to form Vocational &
Industrial Training Board (VITB)
• Expanded range and higher-level NTC-2 Mechanical
Courses Electrical Engineering (ITC) Engineering (ITC)
• 1981 : Introduction of Business courses
[Certificate in Business Studies (CBS)]
Electronics Instrumentation
• 1981 : Setting up of Centre of Vocational (NTC) Mechanical Drafting (NTC)
Training within VITB to build expertise in
curriculum development, training of trainers
and instructional media development
CBS (Secretarial Practice)
A World-Class Vocational Technical Education System In Time For The Future
5 – The Singapore Experience

6. VTE STRATEGIES FOR
CAPITAL-INTENSIVE ECONOMY (1980s)
> Mass Skills Training and Workforce Development
• 1983 - 1991 : Introduction of new national training
programmes aimed at mature workers with little
education or technical training
BEST Class in Mathematics
 1983 Basic Education for Skills Training (BEST)
 1986 Modular Skills Training Scheme (MOST)
 1987 Worker Improvement through Secondary
Education (WISE) MOST Course in
Electrical Engineering
 1991 Training Initiative for Mature Employees
(TIME)
• 1990 : Introduction of New Apprenticeship System to
strengthen institutional training component Apprenticeship
off-the-job training at
Precision Optics Centre
A World-Class Vocational Technical Education System In Time For The Future
6 – The Singapore Experience

7. CAPITAL-INTENSIVE ECONOMY (1990s)
Newly-Industrialised and Developed Economy (1990s)
Singapore’s Economic & Manpower Strategies (1990s)
• Emphasis on both the manufacturing and service sectors,
encouragement of local enterprises to diversify, upgrade and
develop into strong export-oriented companies and promotion of
regional investments
• Develop manpower needed for the push to high technology and
knowledge-intensive products and services
A World-Class Vocational Technical Education System In Time For The Future
7 – The Singapore Experience

8. ITE’S STRATEGIC RESPONSES TO
TRANSFORM VTE IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY
1) Developing a Relevant and Responsive VTE System
q Integrated and Holistic Strategic Planning Model
q Responsive “One ITE System, Three Colleges”
Governance Model
2) Creating a Unique “Hands-on, Minds-on, Hearts-on”
ITE College Education
q Practice-Oriented Curriculum Model (Hands-on)
q Process-Oriented Pedagogic Model (Minds-on)
q Holistic Student Development (Hearts-on)
3) Enhancing the Attractiveness of ITE
q Innovative Experience ITE Programme
q Creative Rebranding of ITE
A World-Class Vocational Technical Education System In Time For The Future
8 – The Singapore Experience

9. Enhancing
the
Attractiveness
of ITE
A World-Class Vocational Technical Education System In Time For The Future
– The Singapore Experience

10. INNOVATIVE
EXPERIENCE ITE PROGRAMME
q Two-Day Learning Adventure
for Secondary 2 and 3 students “IRC On The Go”
(ITE potential customers)
q Projects “I Can Save Lives”
Automated Warehousing
Systems (Core) “Street Smart”
“I Can Save Lives” (Elective)
“Robot Racer”
“Street Smart” (Elective)
“Robot Racer” (Elective)
“Internet Relay Chat (IRC) CCA Tours
On The Go” (Elective)
Automated Warehousing Systems
A World-Class Vocational Technical Education System In Time For The Future
10 – The Singapore Experience

11. CREATIVE REBRANDING OF ITE
“Thinking Hands
Create Success”
Branding
Campaign
Bus Advertisements MRT Advertisements Advertisements at MRT Gantries
A World-Class Vocational Technical Education System In Time For The Future
11 – The Singapore Experience

12. Thank You