I wish to add on & use Electrical trade as an example. In the past, mostly only SP & NP have Electrical Diploma courses. SP Full time (3 years) & Part time (5 years) Diploma have the same qualification for Electrical & Electronics Engineering. EMA recognized their Diploma for LEW & NTU/NUS recognized their Diploma for both full & part time degree. NP Full time (3 years) is Diploma in Electrical Engineering & Part time (3 years) is Diploma in Technology (Electrical). EMA recognized their Diploma for LEW & NTU/NUS recognized their Diploma for both full & part time degree. However NP Diploma in Electrical Engineering direct entry to 2nd year & NP Diploma in Technology (Electrical) have to start for 1st year for degree courses like NTU BEng (Electrical & Electronics).
Now all part time Diploma courses change to CET Diploma courses to create the different standard. Both CET Diplomas, SP Diploma in Engineering (Power Engineering) & NP Diploma in Engineering (Electrical) is 2.5 years night class duration. EMA recognized their Diploma for LEW however both NUS & NTU do not recognized CET Diploma for full time degree courses. Even NTU, the only local university conducted part time degree in electrical do not recognized CET Diploma. This mean that forever you will never be able to become a Professional Engineer (Electrical) in Singapore by Singapore education mode using CET Diploma.
Then nowadays more polytechnic like RP is opening up CET Diploma course related to Electrical. A lot of people assume that as long as it is a Polytechnic Diploma, EMA will recognized it which is not true. To add on, why young people are studying CET Diploma because they cannot enter full time education.
In the first place, Singapore Government are limiting Singaporeans to have higher education on that those who fail to have higher education while be force to find jobs in the workforce. Singapore Government want to have a Hierarchy system in the workforce so that graduate from ITE Certificate (Technician), Polytechnic Diploma (Technical Officer) and Local University Degree (Engineer) will work in their respective social class status. If the workforce ever needs more manpower at higher level like Engineer, they can always get Foreigners to fill up the gap. However things change when Singapore have become a high cost of living country & companies are addicted to pay low wages. ITE graduates are force to study higher education like Polytechnic Diploma in order to hold higher position like Technical Officer to command a higher wages. Now the situation force a lot of Singaporeans to become unemployed because of oversupply of educated job applicants for low demand job openings in a high cost of living country like Singapore & companies are still addicted to pay low wages.
The education system & other systems created by Singapore Government have screw up a lot of Singaporeans.
Very true, SG Gov push Skillsfuture courses and etc.
However even if one goes for future upgrading/studies.
One can never guarantee a job since they are already
allocated for FW/FT.
Even if sinkies want to apply for certain roles, usually are
either low ball or KIV the job application for two weeks.
I been through two years of unemployment just because
of how SG job market have never favour locals but foreigners.
Regarding LEW course that I didn't know and Thanks for sharing.
One thing for sure which I forget to add is if one wish
to apply for local Uni PT degree.
CET Diploma for both NTU and NUS PT Degree they cannot accept.
However NTU new courses in IT and etc. PT course,
one can try.
I have enquired before but yet to apply.
To be honest I spent a total of five years further studies.
My body and mind need a break not to mention lack
of sleep and rest for so long.
Sometimes I feel it is tough pill to swallow that even if you
went through five years of studying. Finding a job is not easy
that is one thing.
For me I feel most employers don't respect or give credits
to someone who went for further studies after NS.
Not to mention they treat such certs same with full time than....