VOCATIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING BOARD BILL

Order for Second Reading read.

The Acting Minister for Social Affairs (Dr Ahmad Mattar): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move, "That the Bill be now read a Second time."

The Bill seeks to establish the Vocational and Industrial Training Board (VITB) by the amalgamation of the Adult Education Board (AEB) and the Industrial Training Board (ITB). The Bill also provides that the registration of private vocational training institutions, at present carried out under the Education Act, may be progressively transferred to the new Board. Responsibility for vocational and industrial training and for continuing education will be centralised in the new body. The training to be provided will extend across areas of skilled employment in commerce and industry, including the service trades and applied arts. These developments cut across the functions presently discharged by the AEB and the ITB. The amalgamation of the existing two boards into a single body will rationalise the provision of vocational and industrial training.

Sir, gone are the days when anyone can get meaningful employment without training. As the years go by, employment in Singapore will depend increasingly upon possession of needed skills. Therefore, for a significant proportion of our youth, the VITB will represent a transitory stage between school and their world of work. VITB will place equal emphasis within its training institutes and centres on attitudinal development, work discipline and safety consciousness. One of the concomitant functions of the VITB will be the continued provision of advanced skill training and conversion training or retraining of workers. The VITB in conjunction with the Economic Development Board (EDB) will continue the policy of promoting apprenticeship training within industry.

In the past, training for commercial skills and vocations has been left largely to the private sector. As a result, the latter have developed their own courses and certificates or have followed programmes of other countries. In 1967, the AEB launched its first full-time commercial courses which proved very popular because they met a great need. The VITB will progressively develop comprehensive programmes of commercial education to meet the requirements of our increasingly sophisticated commercial and financial sector in the same way that the ITB has done for the industrial sector. The VITB will seek to establish a higher commercial institute to satisfy the demand for commercial education in Singapore, fulfilling the vacuum between the programmes now offered at the tertiary institutions and elementary skills learned on-the-job or at private institutes.

Adult education, or continuing education as it is more contemporarily called, will be a vital function of the VITB. This will be an integral part of the further personal development and skill advancement of the work force. Thus courses leading to the General Certificate of Education 'O' and 'A' levels will continue to be offered in the evenings. The new Board will also continue to offer programmes in the further study of the official languages of the Republic. An increasingly important aspect of the Board's work will be the mounting of courses in foreign languages. Courses of purely general interest or of a hobby-oriented nature will be discontinued. These will be adequately catered for by the Ministry of Culture's mass media and the community education courses of the People's Association and other bodies.

Sir, besides developing the necessary wide-ranging curricula and offering the programmes of training, the VITB will become the authority in Singapore for the setting and conduct of examinations and tests in areas of vocational and industrial skills and for the certification of standards. In this role, the VITB will progressively establish an overall national system of vocational certification for skills and vocations in commerce and industry, as the ITB has done for industrial skills under the National Trade Certification (NTC) system.

The Bill enacts substantially the same detailed provisions as are contained in the Education Act for the registration of private vocational institutions. There is a consequential amendment made to the latter Act to avoid duplication of registration by the Ministry of Education and the VITB. The Bill provides that the registration provisions may be brought into force separately and applied to specific categories of vocational training institutions. The Bill will repeal the Lembaga Gerakan Pelajaran Dewasa Act and the Industrial Training Board Act and these worthy boards will cease to exist.

Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed. 5.42 p.m.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Mr Speaker, Sir, when the Vocational and Industrial Training Board Bill was introduced in the House on 10th January 1979, I looked forward with great interest to this debate. As the Minister in charge has just pointed out, the Bill is to set up the Vocational and Industrial Training Board (VITB) through the merger of the Adult Education Board and the Industrial Training Board.

The VITB has a crucial dual role. Firstly, the VITB, through Government's heavy investments in it, must meet the nation's requirements for skilled workers. Secondly, the VITB represents the parallel avenue to self-fulfilment, through vocational and industrial training, for those students who are unable to continue with academic education for one reason or another.

Thus, the pace of development of our society would also depend upon an ever-expanding base of vocations and skills. A decade and a half ago computer programmers and technicians were in limited demand. Today it is undeniably true that business and public administration would be inconceivable without them. To give an illustration, the expansion of our public housing, road network and factories would not have been possible without construction workers. And if we decide to introduce MRT in the 80's we shall need not only more construction workers, but also maintenance and systems-control technicians, and a host of support skills as well. The growth of consumer products creates its own demand for service and repair skills. Industry itself will depend on a growing army of skilled workers with a broadened scope. Naturally it will be the role of the VITB to match all these and other needs by realistic planning and providing the training necessary. In doing so, it will offer our school-leavers who are vocationally-inclined the means to take up these jobs.

The formation of the VITB also represents the extension of the now tested training system developed by the ITB to all vocational sectors. I agree that the needs of the commercial and service sectors cannot be left to themselves. The steps taken by the Adult Education Board to introduce commercial courses should now be consolidated within a nationally embracive scheme of commercial education and certification. I hope the now board will not confine itself to out-dated and old fashioned programmes like typing, book-keeping and mere secretarial procedures. Our youths should be prepared to take their places in the banks, the financial houses, insurance and the modern marketing corporations equipped with skills to apply high-level commercial techniques and electronics. They should also possess sound and polished office skills. Therefore, I welcome the announcement that the VITB will seek to set up a commercial institute. That indicates that my expectations are likely to be fulfilled. Through the extension of the VITB's planning, curriculum development and training infrastructure to tHe commercial and service sectors, the latter will enjoy the benefits of these complementary functions originally directed (and rightly so) at industrial needs. The provision of commercial education by the VITB will have a stabilising effect on fees in the private sector. The transfer of registration of private vocational and commercial schools to the VITB is a move in the right direction and is also an administrative improvement. Sir, I hope that the transfer will be done in such a way as not to cause inconvenience or disruption.

Mr Speaker, I support the merging of the Adult Education Board and the Industrial Training Board. The Adult Education Board has, since its inception in 1960, played a credible and important role in public education, I am glad this role will remain under the Continuing Education programme. However, I hope that the merger will result in a more comprehensive orientation of the AEB's and ITB's part-time programmes into related modules, so that the upgrading of workers will lead to higher qualifications and prospects. The better geographical spread of the institutional facilities of the two boards taken together will make these courses more accessible to workers. I have heard that workers are sometimes unable to follow ITB's part-time courses because of the distances of the vocational institutes from their homes.

The ITB, since its inception in 1973, has proved a good number of our educationists wrong by successfully graduating tens of thousands of trainees with basic skills who have found employment in industry. These trainees were termed as "school-dropouts" in the early 60's as they could not pass their PSLE. But through a more realistic reorganisation of courses for them in the vocational schools then and subsequently through ITB some five years later or so; they proved that they were more vocationally inclined and could, given the right training, find gainful employment without much difficulty. Hence the bold moves made in 1968-71 to establish the vocational institutes have paid off handsome dividends. The NTC certification system has gained increasing acceptance. Those associated with the Adult Education Board - and I pause here because I recognise in this House a person none other than the hon. Member for Anson, who was the founder Chairman of the AEB - that he and others can rest satisfied that their good work will be continued. Those who have served on the ITB can also feel gratified that the larger role of the VITB will be well founded on ITB's experience.

I am particularly pleased to see that it has been decided to retain the tripartite Government-Employers-NTUC representation on the new board. This formula is not only essential for close consultation leading to realistic programmes; but this tripartite collaboration is also the very foundation of Singapore as a nation and which thus underlies our success.

Sir, I would like to urge two things. First, that VITB must place the highest emphasis on attitudinal development. Work discipline, courtesy, pride in work are as important as pure skill. Whether at the level of junior trainee, apprentice, or the advanced skilled worker, the distinguishing quality of a VITB graduate should be the quiet pride and professionalism of the man - or woman - founded in the confidence that no job is too tough or too undignified if one has the tools and the skills. Second, I would also urge that maximum attention be given in the schools to guide vocationally-inclined children towards vocational development. It is more than about time that we must overcome the prejudices of parents for academic education, and develop techniques for determining the aptitudes of children for vocational development

Finally, I would like to refer to two matters in the Bill. Amongst other functions and powers contained in Part IV, clauses 19 to 21 inclusive and Part VI, clause 38(1), the Board will have to appoint a Director, with the approval of the Minister, as well as one of its officers to be the Registrar of Vocational Training Institutions.

As far as the appointment of a Director is concerned, I do not know whether or not them is a need to have a deputy director also, although the Bill does provide that "any person may be appointed by the Board to act in the place of the Director during any period of such absence from duty". This subclause (3) of clause 38 does not seem, to my mind, to reflect the importance of the post. One seems to get the impression that the provision of a Director to such an institution for vocational and industrial training is sufficient to cope with the demands of the work involved. May I say that even in schools there are either vice-principals or senior assistants to assist the principals. What more the VITB? I would therefore submit that this matter be looked into. Of course, the Minister in charge may, in reply, refer me to clause 39 which concerns "Employment of Staff" and point out that the Director as Chief Executive would have assistants. I would therefore add that though it is only too true, is this not going to be a much bigger outfit than before?

The other matter concerns the post of Registrar. He has to keep a register of every vocational training institution registered under this Act. Whereas the term "Vocational training institution" in the Bill adequately covers its intention, it should have been realised that there are so many such institutions providing the kind of instruction or training described. Therefore, with the Act in operation, the Registrar will need some time to fully discharge his function because of compulsory registration as required under clause 25 of the Bill. I do not really know whether the "three months from the date of coming into operation of this Part" will be sufficient time or will the Registrar alone be efficient and effective enough to handle all this? I raise this point because clause 22 empowers the Minister to specify the types of vocational training institutions to be transferred.

In conclusion, I would urge the Minister in charge to have a periodic review of VITB's policies by closely monitoring the impact of its results relating to our manpower needs in the development of Singapore.

On that note, Mr Speaker, Sir, I give my full support to the Bill. 5.57 p.m.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin (Jalan Kayu): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would just like to make a very brief comment, in view of the rather important objective of this Bill. Clause 4, paragraph (a), outlines the objects of the Board. Among other things, it seeks to regulate the training of persons employed in both commerce and industry. Judging from the very long statement just made by my colleague, the hon. Member for Punggol, once this Bill becomes law, it is evident that it is going to have very far-reaching effects on the training of personnel in both commerce and industry. I wonder whether those people in the private sector have been given the opportunity to give their views and whether the hon. Minister has consulted the employers as well as the employees. If there is no great hurry, I would suggest that the Bill be referred to a Select Committee so that the various Chambers of Commerce, the NTUC, and a number of professional bodies who are conducting their own training could all be invited to give their views. On that basis perhaps we could achieve this very noble objective of upgrading the skills and regulating any training programme as outlined in clause 4. paragraph (a), of the Bill. 6.00 p.m.

Dr Ahmad Mattar: Mr Speaker, Sir, first of all, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Punggol for raising no less than six very valid points concerning the nature and scope of vocational and industrial training in Singapore in the future. I would also like to comment on the observation raised by the hon. Member for Jalan Kayu.

First of all, allow me to answer the points raised by the hon. Member for Punggol. Sir, I concur fully with the Member that the VITB should not limit itself to providing only the traditional office skills under its commercial education programmes. As the hon. Member has rightly pointed out, our youths will have to be prepared to take their places in the banks, financial houses, insurance companies and the modern marketing corporations. equipped with skills to apply high-level commercial techniques. Sir, the VITB will therefore act as the pace-setter in commercial education as the ITB has done over the last six years in industrial training. It will train hand-in-hand with commercial firms to meet their needs, as the ITB has done for manufacturing firms. I confirm that the VITB will seek to develop commercial education within a national system of certification in the same way as the ITB has done to industrial training under the National Trade Certification system.

On the grouses of workers who are unable to follow ITB's part-time courses because of the distance of the vocational institutes from their homes, it is not always possible for the ITB to please mill workers all the time. Some are bound to be inconvenienced by the long distances they have to commute between home and the institute. For example, courses in electronics and the electrical trades can only be conducted at three vocational institutes, namely, Aljunied, Bukit Merah and the Jurong Vocational Institutes. Consequently, workers living, say, in Bedok will invariably find these institutes far from their homes. Nonetheless, I would like to assure the hon. Member for Punggol that the VITB will do its best to try to minimise this inconvenience.

On the question of a Deputy Director and other assistants to support the Director, clause 38 of the Bill is intended specifically to provide that the Chief Executive or the person to assume overall responsibility for the implementation of the Board's policies shall be the Director of Vocational and Industrial Training and that he is to be appointed by the Board subject to the Minister's approval. The Director will, in fact, be assisted at Headquarters by a Deputy Director and Divisional Directors. Each training institute will be under a Training Manager responsible to the Director. The Training Manager, in turn, will be assisted by heads of departments in charge of training in the individual trades and vocations. I entirely share the sentiments of the hon. Member for Punggol that adequate competent supporting staff is a prerequisite for a sound training system.

On the post of Registrar, the hon. Member may wish to note that one of the officers of the Board will be appointed the Registrar of Vocational Training Institutions. He will be provided with supporting staff to carry out his functions.

Part V of the Bill which deals with the registration of vocational training institutions will be brought into force separately. The Registrar and his staff will therefore have ample time to prepare for it. The transfer of registration to the VITB will be done in stages, without inconvenience or disruption.

With regard to the emphasis on attitudinal development, I wish to state that VITB raining will be founded on the belief that a good worker is a person with competent skills and sound work attitudes. Equal emphasis is placed on both. The basic full-time programmes for the school-leavers have been revised to increase training in attitudinal development, work discipline, safety and team dependence, among others. Co-curricular activities and visits to industries have been built in to complete the social and work environment experiences.

The fifth point raised by the hon. Member for Punggol was on the effort to educate the less academically-inclined school children. I agree entirely with the Member that every effort must be made to educate the less academically-inclined school children and their parents about the prospects and value of vocational and industrial training. I might add the same for employers about the advantages of employing our graduates, who represent a sizable subsidy in training.

The VITB will continue to publish the ITB News (to be retitled WTB News) for employers and the public: Techmac and Junior Trainee for the schools, besides a wide range of pamphlets and brochures. Competitions like "Top-of-the-Trade", exhibitions on vocational guidance, talks and other activities will be stepped up. I have been very heartened by the support given by the news media to industrial training. I have no doubt they will do the same, perhaps even more, for vocational and industrial training.

Finally, I would like to assure the hon. Member for Punggol that policies and programmes of vocational training will be kept under constant review and revision. Otherwise we shall not achieve our promise of vocational training being a parallel avenue for personal development and fulfilment nor our task for creating a skilled, competent and flexible work force.

On the observation raised by the hon. Member for Jalan Kayu, the Bill has been carefully studied by the various bodies he mentioned, the NTUC, the Singapore Manufacturers Association, the Chambers of Commerce, because these bodies are represented at present on both the Industrial Training Board as well as the Adult Education Board.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin: Just one additional observation, Sir. Why should we not simply call it commercial and industrial training?

Dr Ahmad Mattar: For the simple reason that besides industrial and commercial education, the VITB will also be conducting other courses. As I have said in my speech on the Second Reading, the VITB will still be conducting courses leading to the General Certificate of Education, both at 'O' and 'A' levels. The Board will also be conducting courses on hairdressing and tailoring for students channelled under the Junior Trainee Scheme, just to name a few. So we cover more than just commercial and industrial training.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read a Second time and committed to a Committee of the whole House.

The House immediately resolved itself into a Committee on the Bill. - [Dr Ahmad Mattar]

Bill considered in Committee; reported without amendment; read a Third time and passed.