WorldSkills contest has helped polys, ITE improve curricula: Maliki

Event enables schools to learn what more they can do to improve students' abilities

- Elisha Tushara

LYON, France WorldSkills, a longrunning vocational skills competition for youth, has helped to improve curricula in Singapore's polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), said Dr Maliki Osman, Second Minister for Education and Foreign Affairs.

Through such international events, the Republic can benchmark not just its students against their peers overseas, but also the local curriculum against the requirements of different skill sets and traits around the world, he said in an interview with The Straits Times.

For example, coaches of students who took part in the mechatronics, cyber security and robotics skill areas have, over the years, infused new concepts and insights learnt from the WorldSkills contests into their curriculum, said Dr Maliki.

Speaking on Sept 14 at the 47th WorldSkills international competition in Lyon, France, Dr Maliki said Singapore also gains more than competition experience from these events and can learn from other countries' experiences.

"What may be known as mechatronics and IT (information technology) manifests itself differently in different parts of the world.