CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTRES FOR THE DISABLED

CONTINUING EDUCATION AND TRAINING CENTRES FOR THE DISABLED: 4.

Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng asked the Minister for Manpower if he has plans to set up Continuing Education and Training centres for the disabled since similar efforts were already made for non-disabled Singaporeans.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Manpower (Mr Hawazi Daipi) (for the Minister for Manpower): Mr Speaker, for CET centres to be relevant to industry needs, they are set up to deliver skills training for specific industries and occupations. This allows CET centres to build up sector-specific training capabilities and linkages with their industries. Therefore, CET centres are not organised based on specific target groups within the labour force.

At present, the courses provided by the CET centres and other WDA Approved Training Organisations (ATOs) are open to all individuals who wish to undergo training, whether able-bodied or disabled. As Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) may face different challenges depending on the nature of their disability, training may need to be customised for each group of PWDs. We should tap on the expertise of the various Voluntary Welfare Organisa

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tions (VWOs) which are in a better position to understand the needs of the PWDs that they serve and provide customised assistance for them.

A good example of how this works is the Infocomm Technology Apprenticeship Training Programme launched in July 2008. This was supported by the Info-comm Development Authority (IDA) and the Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD). It aims to train some 4,000 persons with disabilities over the next three years.

Apart from training, support for job placements and after-placement support is just as important. Currently, WDA funds the Open Door Fund, set up by MCYS, which supports companies in their effort to employ PWDs. Apart from funding job redesign, workplace modification and integration programmes, the scheme also grants apprenticeship funding to companies providing job-specific company training for the PWDs to enable them to perform effectively at the workplace. To date, more than 290 PWDs have been placed through the Open Door Fund. Out of these, more than 170 PWDs were retained for at least three months.

Mr Speaker: Yes, Ms Phua, keep your question short please.

Ms Denise Phua Lay Peng (Jalan Besar): Sir, it seems to me that much more is done by the Government and the NTUC for the pregnant women, the married women, the elderly, the PMETs, and so forth – and many of whom are able-bodied. The disabled actually need more support than just throwing them some funds. I just conducted a three-hour visit to the KFC call centre this morning. And I think they would benefit from some help from Government and NTUC especially if some more support and eye-balling of this group are provided; they being also the sons and daughters of Singapore although they are not able-bodied.

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Mr Hawazi Daipi: Sir, we have to identify the needs of the different types of disabled people. And we have set up committees and organisations to help them. For example, there is a Standing Committee on disability comprising very senior officials of the Government, Ministries and agencies. Among other things, they have identified jobs that may be suitable for the PWDs, for example, in the F&B sector.

The hearing impaired, intellectually disabled and people with autism may be suitable to be trained. But training for them need not necessarily be centralised at a specific centre. What we need to do and will continue to do is to work with agencies and organisations that can help people with specific disabilities so that they can be trained for specific jobs in certain industries or occupations. And that is why we need to work with agencies, organisations including VWOs and not just focus on funding their training. So I agree with Ms Phua that we need to help them and I can assure her that we have set up the organisations and gathered concerned individuals and companies that are interested in helping them.

12.30 pm

Mr Speaker: Order. End of Question time.

[Pursuant to Standing Order No. 22(3), Written Answers to Question Nos. 5, 10 and 11 on the Order Paper are reproduced in the Appendix*. Question Nos. 6-9 and 12 have been postponed to the sitting of Parliament on 4th March 2010.]

*Cols. 2785-2794.