Streamlined Processes And Reduced Compliance Costs For Training Providers

12/04/2019

Streamlined Processes And Reduced Compliance Costs For Training Providers

Training providers will benefit from reduced compliance costs and streamlined processes from 1 July 2019. SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) will revise processes and fees for Private Education Institutions (PEIs), Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) and non-WSQ training providers, while raising the overall quality of the training and adult education sector.

Removal of regulatory fees for PEIs

From 1 July 2019, PEIs will only pay fees for three applications when they seek approval to run new courses - issuance of registration, renewal of registration and course permission. The fees that will be removed include application fees for approval of name, notice of change of management and premises, notice of change of membership of an Examination Board or Academic Board and notice of deployment of teachers. With these changes, PEIs can enjoy cost savings of $380 to $640 annually. Please refer to Table 1 in Annex A for more details on the changes.

Simplified processes and reduced fees for WSQ training providers

Requirements and processes for training providers offering WSQ courses will also be streamlined, resulting in significant cost savings. These include:

A new compliance and performance focused management approach of training providers; and
Reduced issuance cost for WSQ e-Certs.

A new compliance and performance-focused training provider management process will replace the biennial Continuous Improvement Review process, saving $1,605 for all WSQ training providers every two years. SSG will continue to retain oversight of WSQ training providers on their course delivery quality, outcome performance and standards.

Training providers will also enjoy cost savings when SSG reduces the cost of e-Certificates. From 1 July 2019, WSQ certificates will be generated upon request as e-Certificates by training providers through the MySkillsFuture portal. This removes the need for digital storage on the previous online e-Cert system and further reduces the cost per e-certificate by 50%, from $1.28 to $0.64.

Please refer to Table 2 in Annex A for more details on the changes for WSQ training providers.

Regulating SSG-funded non-WSQ programmes to improve quality of training

SSG aims to raise the quality of training courses to ensure that the courses benefit consumers, supported by organisation registration and funding approval processes. There are registration and funding approval fees payable to cover SSG’s costs. These new fees will only be applicable to new applications received and not for existing courses although both new and existing training courses receiving SSG funding will continue to be regulated.

From 1 July 2019, all new non-WSQ training providers will pay a $21.40 registration fee, and all training providers applying for funding for non-WSQ courses will pay $107 for each course. Please refer to Table 3 in Annex A for more details on the changes for training providers seeking funding for non-WSQ courses.

Mr Ng Cher Pong, Chief Executive of SSG said, “Given that the skills demanded by industries are changing rapidly, the training and adult education sector needs to focus on supporting these fast-evolving skills needs. SSG is continuing to strengthen the regulatory system, while taking steps to reduce compliance costs and regulatory processes to support training providers in meeting the needs of the different industries.”

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