I RECENTLY decided to go back to work but was not given a chance by the various schemes provided by the Government to upgrade one's skills.

I had been in the financial sector for close to seven years, have a BSc (Hons) and had put my career on hold for my two young children. Now they have started school, I would like to switch industry.

I had hoped to pick up a skill or two offered under the Surrogate Employer Programme or Skills Redevelopment Programme before embarking on a new career. But to my dismay, some courses are open only to those working in a related industry.

Does this means I need to find a job in the industry I intend to go into before I can upgrade myself? Most of these courses are quite expensive, so how can a non-

working person afford them? Also, it is not easy to find employment without relevant experience.

Now I wonder if these schemes are set up to benefit people who are currently employed or unemployed.

Ng Wei San (Mdm)