Learning outcomes

- Cite sources in writing using the proper citation and referencing style.
- Evaluate information critically from various sources to respond to a task.
- Synthesise information from various sources in writing in response to a given task.
- Develop a rhetorical structure of an essay.

Question 1

On 25/02/2015, then Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Finance and Chairman of the SkillsFuture Council, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam announced in the Budget Speech 2015 Singapore's plan to develop Singaporeans into lifelong learners. Below is an extract of parts of the speech:

Lifelong Learning: Our Next Phase of Development

We will build on these foundations to create a new environment for lifelong learning. It is critical to our future. It will develop the skills and mastery needed to take our economy to the next level. More fundamentally, it aims to empower each Singaporean to chart their own journey in life, and gain fulfilment at work and even in their senior years.

We have called this development effort ‘SkillsFuture'. It marks a major new phase of investment in our people, throughout life:

- It starts in school, where all students will receive education and career guidance to help them discover the various pathways available, and make informed choices about their future.

- They will be able to engage in deeper and more structured internship programmes, particularly in our Institutes of Higher Learning, to excite them about possible career pathways.

- Once in the workforce, Singaporeans will be able to acquire deeper skills relevant to their jobs, as well as renew themselves by going back to education in the course of their careers.

- We will support these continuous engagements in learning. We will provide enhanced subsidies for courses, as well as special support through SkillsFuture Study Awards, and SkillsFuture Fellowships for those pursuing mastery in their fields.

- These specific initiatives will be underpinned by a lifelong SkillsFuture Credit which every Singaporean will receive. This will be topped up at regular intervals with credits that they can use to help pay for courses of their choice. Every Singaporean can use the SkillsFuture Credit to take charge of their own learning over the course of their lives.

- It will involve new modes of learning - such as short modular courses, weekend workshops, and learning online through Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs). It will include executive and specialist development programmes, and on-the-job training both in individual firms and ‘industry campuses'.

- It will also involve new types of educators and trainers, including industry practitioners, besides our academics. Developing this new landscape of learning will take time and resources, but we must put full effort into this. MOE and WDA will enhance existing accreditation frameworks for this purpose for courses within the education and training industry.

- We must make it possible for every individual to decide on his or her own learning journey: when to go for fresh infusions of skills or knowledge, and whether it should be in specialised professional training, acquiring soft skills, or developing a new interest.

With the implementation of the full package of measures under SkillsFuture, we estimate that spending on continuing education and training will increase from about $600m per year over the last five years, to an average of over $1 billion per year from now to 2020.

In about 750 words, write a synthesis essay on the SkillsFuture. You will need to narrow this broad topic. You must formulate a thesis about this issue and provide evidence that will support your thesis. The thesis for this TMA01 is a viewpoint that does not have to be persuasive - that is, it is the conclusion you arrive at based on summarising and synthesising the information you researched on this topic. Relevant information for you to gather would be:

- Issues (economic, social, educational and etc.) surrounding SkillsFuture
- Evidence for SkillsFuture
- Evidence against SkillsFuture
- Improvements to existing measures

1. Use process writing to develop a rhetorical structure for your essay.

2. Strengthen your thesis with relevant examples and illustrations.

3. You may include any additional but relevant information to the ideas that have already been given in the scenario and articles.

4. You should use at least 5 research sources to help you write your essay. The given articles are considered as a separate research source each and can count towards the 5 research sources. Synthesise information from these various sources in your writing.

5. You are to use credible and reliable sources to help you write this essay. Evaluate information critically from various sources in your response. Marks will be deducted for non-credible and unreliable content.

6. Remember to use accurate grammar, correct sentence structures and a tone appropriate to academic writing. Cite sources in your writing using the proper citation and referencing style. Marks will be deducted for poor English.

Article 1:

A good range of schemes to enhance lifelong learning

Article 2:

HR & EDUCATION | CONTRIBUTED CONTENT, SINGAPORE

Attachment:- Revised.pdf