DY CEO Speech for COJTC 25th Anniversary Celebration

News details

  • Publish date:12 Nov 2019

ADDRESS BY Mr Aw York Bin, Deputy CEO (Industry), ITE, AT THE COMMEMORATION OF THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CERTIFIED ON-THE-JOB TRAINING CENTRE (COJTC) SCHEME HELD ON TUESDAY 12 NOVEMBER 2019, AT 1500 HOURS AT THE TAY ENG SOON CONVENTION CENTRE, AUDITORIUM, ITE HEADQUARTERS


Our Guest of Honour, Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State, Ministry for Trade and Industry

COJTC Partners

Distinguished Guests

ITE Colleagues

Ladies and Gentlemen

1               This afternoon we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Certified On-the-Job Training Centre (COJTC) scheme.  In 1994, the COJTC scheme was launched to address the training needs of Singapore’s relatively unskilled workforce through companies conducting structured in-house training.  ITE’s role is to guide, train and support companies to develop a system to enhance their capability to:

  1. identify training needs, skills gaps,
  2. plan, design and schedule in-house training
  3. conduct OJT and assess skills competency
  4. track training outcomes and records as feedback to plan the following year’s training

2           COJTC companies have found structured OJT to be efficient and cost-effective. The use of standardised checklist of skills and performance criteria has helped to ensure consistent training quality and skills mastery. Feedback from COJTCs attest to benefits of improved productivity, reduced wastage, improved customer service and better staff retention.   Employees of COJTCs have also responded positively to the adoption of structured OJT and view this as a direct, personal and easy-to-follow type of training. 

3           In today’s context of industry transformation, work redesign, adoption of technology and digitalisation, there is an even greater need for companies to provide skills upgrading for their employees. ITE’s COJTC scheme will enable companies to build their in-house training capability and culture. 

4           The impact of the COJTC Scheme on the workforce is significant.  Since its introduction in 1994, the number of COJTCs has grown from 14 companies accredited with the status to about 300 today. The COJTCs cut across various industry sectors.  Each year, about 35,000 employees are trained through the COJTC scheme.  This translates to about 66,000 training places per year. 

5           Since 2017, ITE has collaborated with the Institute for Adult Learning (IAL) to deploy Certified Workplace Learning Specialists (CWLS) to assist companies in reviewing, developing and enhancing their workplace learning framework.  To-date, more than 30 ITE COJTC partners have benefited from the involvement of CWLS.

6           To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the COJTC scheme, we would like to commend all COJTC partners with a special memento.  In addition, 20 COJTC partners will receive the COJTC Distinguished Partner Award.

7           On this note, I wish to thank everyone for your strong support for the COJTC scheme.  We share the same belief and philosophy that a company’s impact can only be achieved through its people. Together, we will continue to develop and grow our employees’ capabilities and competencies. May all COJTC companies continue to thrive and grow!

Thank you.