Boosting prospects of non-degree holders in civil service

Boosting prospects of non-degree holders in civil service

From Aug 1, those joining the civil service without university qualifications will be hired under the same scheme as most university graduates.

This means that they will have greater opportunities to advance, and when they reach a certain grade, will be assessed for performance and potential in the same way as their graduate colleagues at the same level.

The move aims to bridge the gap in career prospects between graduates and non-graduates.

"Officers assessed to have the same performance and potential will have the same opportunities for advancement and career development, whether they are degree holders or not," said Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Teo Chee Hean yesterday, during the debate on the Prime Minister's Office budget.

Mr Teo, Minister-in-charge of the civil service, was responding to Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How (Whampoa), who asked for an update on the Public Service Division's study - announced last August - on ways to merge the main graduate and non-graduate schemes, and give officers a chance to progress on the same career track.

This study is in line with the Government's push to do more to support the aspirations of non-graduates, and the Applied Study in Polytechnics and ITE Review (Aspire) committee report, which called on bosses to go beyond qualifications in developing workers.

Mr Teo said the study has been completed and the existing Management Executive Scheme, under which most graduates are now hired, will be extended from August this year. "Both degree holders and non-degree holders will be recruited on, and progress along, the extended Management Executive Scheme," he said. "All officers in the same grade will be assessed for performance and potential in the same way."


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