THE report by the Applied Study in Polytechnics and ITE Review
(Aspire) committee has sparked much debate. Some have lamented the
apparent reduction in emphasis on the need for a degree. But the
committee's main objective was to strengthen vocational and skills
training, not decry academic training.
In an ideal world, skills of graduates will perfectly match those
required by employers. But some emerging employment trends of
graduates are of concern.
For a few years now, there have been increasing signs that the
academic training of university graduates has not rendered them
immune to the problems facing other workers in the job market. As
more from each cohort go to university, it is incumbent upon
policymakers to confront the problem at an early stage.
In Singapore, the number of unemployed residents with degrees is
now higher than for groups of any other educational level. For last
year, the reported figures show 18,600 degree holders unemployed,
making up close to a third of the overall 59,800. The numerical gap
has been widening, with the figure overtaking those of the groups
with secondary and below-secondary qualifications in 2010 and 2011
respectively.
ST