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About 1/4 of jobs in Singapore could disappear by 2030 thanks to automation. That translates to 800 million jobs lost globally. School education is the first step to equipping future generations for this jobs revolution. Singapore is often at the top of the OECD's ranking that tests 15-year-olds' abilities in science, reading, maths, and problem solving. But experts argue that soft skills such as adaptability, agility, and an openness to change are essential to deal with the jobs of tomorrow.
Singapore's minister for education, Ong Ye Kung, says the city-state's emphasis on academic excellence may have deprived students of the innovative spirit, entrepreneurial zest, and survival instincts needed in the real world. But now, the city-state is bringing the world of work closer to schools. Mr Ong is exploring ways to apply features of the Swiss education system, classroom study combined with apprenticeships, to Singapore. And by 2023, all Singaporean primary schools will have an Applied Learning Programme aimed at nurturing creativity and innovation to prepare Singapore's children for the future.
Under the SkillsFuture Initiative, all Singaporeans aged 25 and above are given about $400 to choose among 18,000 courses aimed at improving work skills. As of December 2016, more than 120,000 people, 4% of eligible Singaporeans, had signed up, with more than 60% being over 40 years of age. If successful, Singapore will have an education revolution to match the job revolution that is just around the corner.
