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Source:
www.moe.gov.sg |
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More than Half of Former ITE Students Upgraded to
Higher Qualifications within 5 to 10 Years of Completing Their ITE
Course |
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A survey conducted by the Ministry of
Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in 2007 found that
more than half of the former students of the Institute of Technical
Education (ITE) surveyed had upgraded or were upgrading to higher
qualifications within 5 to 10 years of completing their ITE course, with
almost two-thirds attaining Diploma qualifications. |
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The survey was conducted to understand the
educational upgrading trends amongst former ITE students who have
completed their studies.[1] They were surveyed on their educational
upgrading histories and plans, employment details and achievements from
upgrading. |
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Key Survey Findings |
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3The survey results indicate that over half
(53%) of former ITE students upgraded[2] within 5 to 10 years of
graduation. On average, almost two-thirds of them upgraded to a Diploma.
The majority (82%) of former ITE Science & Technology (S&T) students who
upgraded continued pursuing S&T courses. |
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ITE upgraders indicated that upgrading has
helped them enhance their career progression and prospects, as well as
improve their skills, productivity and salaries. Nitec and Higher Nitec
upgraders enjoyed wage premiums of 11.6% and 12.8% respectively from
upgrading relative to their peers who did not upgrade. |
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Overall, upgraders based their decision to
upgrade on their desire to fulfill career and personal aspirations.
Amongst those who upgraded to a Higher Nitec or Diploma qualification,
the main reason for upgrading was to secure a better paying job. |
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At higher qualification levels (e.g.
Advanced/Specialist Diplomas and Degree), the proportion who upgraded in
order to qualify for promotion to the next level was higher than that at
lower qualification levels. The proportion who upgraded to fulfill
personal aspirations remained consistent at about 30% across all levels. |
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As a result of the various upgrading
pathways available to Diploma holders and ITE graduates (including
full-time study at our local universities and polytechnics,
distance-learning, part-time and overseas study), the proportion of
degree-holders in each cohort is 43%. Correspondingly, the proportion of
those with only ITE qualifications is reduced to 12% and those with
Diploma qualifications, 21%. |
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Conclusion |
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The upgrading of former ITE and
polytechnic students has resulted in a significant improvement in
the educational profile of a typical Primary 1 cohort, based on
the results from this survey on ITE graduates and the findings
from a similar study on polytechnic upgrading conducted in 2006. |
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Overall, the supply and share of
degree-holders in each cohort is substantially increased. ITE
upgraders also enjoy positive returns from their upgrading efforts
in the form of improved wages, skills and career prospects. |
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[1] 9,340 students who had graduated
from ITE between 1997 and 2001 responded to the survey. |
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[2] Upgrading is measured relative to
the first certificate that the respondent graduate from ITE with.
E.g., Nitec graduates who went on to pursue a Higher Nitec
certificate would be classified as upgraders. |
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Source:
www.moe.gov.sg Press Release
28 Feb 2008 |
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FrontPage Edition: Thu 28 February 2008
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