More PMETs show up

Yes, this is one of the headline from the Singapore's free newspaper, dated Apr 8, 2009.



Some of the Professionals, Managers, Executives and Technicians (PMET) were reportedly in their 30's, with some coming back from overseas but were not able to find a job and some who were retrenched.



In The Straits Times today (Apr 4, 2009), a former Prisons officer aged 42 years was quoted as being unemployed despite having a double degree from an Australian University but he has since found a job after undergoing WDA's WSQ course in Customer Service. This guy is lucky to earn $4k a month now compared to fresh graduates who may be offered a starting pay of between $2k to $4k depending on what degree they're holding - business admin, business management, economics, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, etc.



This is a grave mistake by many Singapore employers who chose to put their faith in locally developed courses as it may not be recognized by other foreign countries as they preferred internationally recognized qualifications.



The WSQ courses are more of a role playing environment with some time for classroom lessons and they have to demonstrate how they would do it "live", unlike foreign tertiary instituitions where real subject knowledge are taught and undergrads have to complete assignments, exams and make presentation, etc.



Now Singapore is a potential hotbed for terrorists, arsonists, criminals, transnational criminals and others including violent activists to launch their attacks and crimes as more PMETs' needs are not taken care of by the relevant authorities and employers that are pro-government.



It's also high time for the government to make Skills Development Funds (SDF) available to the public that are keen to upgrade themselves during this global economic downturn.

The best gift from any sensible government to its citizens is the gift of education, to prevent abuses why not let the individuals to pay for the course(s) of their own choice, preferably with an international institution of learning and then the other prerequisite would be to at least pass the exams.



At least independent and creative Singaporeans can choose to work overseas where the grass may be greener rather than being stifled here with unrealistic low salary coupled with high costs of living.



Take my Million Dollars Challenge to ensure peace and prosperity in our homeland.