New training, practice requirements for SkillsFuture adult educators

From April 2026, those teaching SSG-backed courses must be on new national registry

- Gabrielle Chan

Educators teaching SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG)-supported courses for adult learning will soon be required to clock practice hours and undergo regular training, in a move to raise the quality of training, said Education Minister Desmond Lee on July 7.

Speaking at the opening forum of the annual SkillsFuture Festival held at Raffles City Convention Centre, Mr Lee announced a new Training and Adult Educator Professional Pathway that will create a new national registry.

From April 1, 2026, those who wish to conduct SSG-supported courses must be on the registry. To stay registered, they must complete at least 40 Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours and 80 practice hours every two years.

This will ensure that adult educators continue to upgrade, and keep up with industry developments and new training methods, Mr Lee said.

CPD hours refer to those spent on learning and development, which includes structured training, workshops and conferences. Practice hours are those fulfilled by delivering training or other activities like curriculum assessment or design.

Currently, they only have to complete a certification programme by the Institute for Adult Learning (IAL), said Mr Lee, but he noted that this one-off certification will not be enough.

This certification will still be mandatory for adult educators seeking to join the SSG registry. The online registration process for the new registry will start in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Apart from ensuring the quality of adult educators, the aim is also to bring in more industry practitioners as they have the necessary knowledge and experience, Mr Lee said.

"As such, we will offer more entry pathways for expert practitioners from the industry in certain selected professional sectors to be recognised and certified as adult educators," he said.