AFTER more than two years in the industry, Mr Lee Kwang Meng, 51, finally received a certificate in landscape operations yesterday.

The whole process took just 41/2 hours.

He is one of the early beneficiaries of a new scheme set up by the Workforce Development Authority to give workers a faster and cheaper way to obtain work-skills qualifications.

Instead of having to spend over $200 and take more than a month off work for training, the shortcut allows those who have a few years' experience under their belt to get their certificate by taking a short test for $65. The test in the landscape sector involves activities such as cutting grass, planting trees and pruning.

The fast track to qualifications received the thumbs-up from workers. 'I'm very happy. It was fast and gave me an opportunity to upgrade myself,' said Mr Lee, who worked as a lorry driver for more than two years before his love of plants drew him to landscaping.

Mr Lee and those taking the test with him met Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Manpower) Hawazi Daipi as he toured the Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology in Bishan. It was set up by the National Parks Board last year to offer training in landscaping and horticulture.

Mr Hawazi paid a visit to get a first-hand look at how the centre and the skills training programmes were coming along.

He said: 'The annual value of the industry is huge. I was informed earlier it was something like $1.7 billion in 2006, and it will grow because there is greater consciousness of creating green environments around company premises and condominiums, and we want our city to be green.'

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