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Introduction of ITE Skills Subject Certificate (ISSC) In Specialised Schools for Normal (Technical) Students

Last Updated: 23 Jul 2018

News Press Releases

1. The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) Skills Subject Certificate (ISSC) will be introduced in two Specialised Schools for Normal (Technical) students (SSNT) – Crest Secondary School and Spectra Secondary School.

2. SSNT currently offer both GCE N-Level subjects and the ITE Skills Certificate (ISC). The new ISSC will replace the ISC. Secondary One students admitted to the SSNT in January 2019 will be the first cohort to take the ISSC from Secondary Three in 2021.

New ITE Skills Subject Certificate (ISSC)

3. The ISSC will provide SSNT students with a more broad-based curriculum that widens their exposure to different industry growth areas. This will provide students with more opportunities to discover and develop their strengths and interests, and support them in making more informed choices about their post-secondary education progression and future career pathways. At the end of their secondary education, SSNT students will graduate with an N-Level certificate and the ISSC qualification.

4. The ISSC will be offered over two years in Secondary 3 and 4. As part of the ISSC, students can choose two of five Skills Subjects offered:

  • Mechanical Design & Automation
  • Culinary & Restaurant Operations
  • Retail & e-Commerce
  • Internet of Things Applications
  • Mobile Web Applications

5. The Skills Subjects will emphasise the development of core technical skills related to various industry growth areas, and cover the relevant fundamental concepts, and skills. In addition, each Skills Subject will incorporate projects and experiential learning to develop students’ socio-emotional competencies, such as collaborative problem-solving, laying the foundation for lifelong learning.

6. For admission to ITE National ITE Certificate (Nitec) courses in the Joint Intake Exercise1 (JIE), each Skills Subject will be recognised as equivalent to one N(T) subject. Similar to the current ISC, the ISSC will also be recognised in the ITE Early Admissions Exercise2 (EAE) for progression to relevant full-time and part-time Nitec courses.

7. The ISSC will also include an Industry Experiential Programme (IEP). Under the IEP, all SSNT students will undertake industry attachments to gain exposure to authentic learning and work environments. Students who obtain passes in both their Skills Subjects and successfully complete the IEP will be awarded the ISSC qualification.

8. Students in the Specialised Schools3 and current students in the SSNT will continue offering the ISC. The ISC will continue to be recognised for entry to ITE via the JIE or ITE EAE.

Background of SSNT

9. The SSNT – Crest Secondary School and Spectra Secondary School – were established in 2013 and 2014 respectively to offer an alternative educational pathway for students eligible for the N(T) course. SSNT offer a more practice-oriented, hands-on approach to learning, and develop students holistically through a whole-school approach that emphasises character-building, socio-emotional learning, and the learning of life skills.

Annex: Comparison of Existing ISC and new ISSC

Footnotes

  1. The JIE is conducted to enable GCE ‘N’ (Technical) / GCE ‘N’ (Academic) / GCE ‘O’ Level holders to apply for the 2-Year Nitec courses conducted by the ITE.

  2. ITE EAE is an aptitude-based admissions exercise that allows students to apply and receive conditional offers for admission to ITE based on their aptitude and interest, prior to receiving their final Nitec, GCE N- or O-Level examination results.

  3. The two SSs are NorthLight School and Assumption Pathway School.