New bus captains will now have to go for standardised
centralised training at a new bus academy, which was officially
opened on Monday (Oct 17).
They will have to undergo the five-day Enhanced
Vocational Licence Training Programme in order to obtain their
Omnibus Drivers' Vocational Licence at the Singapore Bus
Academy.
The programme comprises six modules which give an
overview of their public transport industry; omnibus driver's
vocational licence and regulations; sectoral tripartism; overview
of the bus ticketing system and common fleet management systems;
service literacy; and safe driving techniques.
The academy, which is located at the Devan Nair
Institute for Employment and Employability in Jurong East, is part
of the Industry Manpower Plan for the public bus industry.
"Under the bus contracting model, service standards and
the bus fleet will be enhanced further," said Senior Minister of
State for Transport Josephine Teo, who attended the opening.
"However, we all know that this must be complemented by an equal
focus on bus professionals."
The programme will be conducted by in-house trainers as
well as trainers from the National Transport Workers' Union, SBS
Transit and SMRT.
ST