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.