SINGAPORE - Training provider FirstCom Academy will be suspended for three months for using a referral programme for marketing which goes against terms for training providers by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG).
The company, that provides courses in areas ranging from digital marketing to people management, will be suspended from Jan 1, 2025 to March 31, 2025.
This means that funding subsidies for all its courses that start within this period will be suspended. These courses will not be eligible for Government course fee subsidies or SkillsFuture Credit usage.
In a statement on Nov 27, SSG said it has been investigating FirstCom Academy’s marketing practices and course quality since early 2024, following “numerous public feedback”.
The agency will also terminate two of FirstCom Academy’s Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) courses due to lapses in ensuring course quality.
During the suspension period, FirstCom Academy cannot start WSQ courses, said SSG, which coordinates the implementation of the national SkillsFuture movement.
On Nov 27, FirstCom Academy said on Instagram and Facebook that its WSQ course curriculum will be undergoing an improvement process in the first quarter of 2025s to provide a better learning experience.
No WSQ courses and course funding will be available from January to March 2025, it said.
“Please check back on 1st Apr 2025 for updates on our refreshed course schedule. We look forward to introducing a series of exciting new courses,” said the company.
SSG said FirstCom Academy will be responsible to inform learners who have enrolled into their courses that commence within the suspension period, that their courses will not be subsidised by SSG nor be eligible for SkillsFuture Credit. They also cannot attain the WSQ Statement of Attainment since the company cannot start WSQ courses during this time.
Learners whose courses have already begun or started before the suspension period will not be impacted, even if their course will only conclude during that time. Those whose courses have not started and do not wish to continue with FirstCom Academy may contact the academy to make alternative arrangements.
They may also approach SSG for a list of similar courses offered by other SSG-registered training providers.
“For WSQ accreditation, courses need to be aligned to the Skills Frameworks’ skills and competencies which are validated by employers, unions and professional bodies,” said SSG, adding that this is to ensure that the training learners receive are relevant to the industry.
“FirstCom Academy should take this time to improve the practices and standards of their marketing processes and course delivery,” it added. “To maintain public confidence in the lifelong learning system, SSG will not hesitate to take action against training providers found to have engaged in marketing misconduct.”
Penalties range from advisory or warning letters, to suspension and termination. The agency has taken action against two other training providers for non-compliance against SSG’s marketing guidelines in 2024.
Members of the public who come across such training providers can share feedback at skillsfuture.gov.sg/feedback
The Straits Times had sent queries to SSG earlier in November about concerns by the public over hardselling tactics used by FirstCom Academy to enrol participants into their courses.
A former education consultant at FirstCom Academy told ST that the company offered incentives such as $80 for referring others to take its courses.
It also enticed course participants with free meals such as breakfast, lunch and tea break, on top of offering a voucher at the end of the courses in exchange for Google reviews, he said.
ST understands that the company’s promoters also told potential applicants their SkillsFuture credits would expire soon, although only the one-off SkillsFuture Credit top-up of $500 provided in 2020 will expire on Dec 31, 2025.
The $500 opening SkillsFuture Credit does not expire, for instance.
SSG guidelines state that the training provider must not provide any referral awards or rewards, conduct any lucky draws; provide gifts or vouchers; or use similar means to incentivise the public to sign up for courses.
The ex-employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that education consultants often took over the phones of applicants at roadshows to sign them up for courses, and often multiple courses at a time.
This was because these sales consultants were offered incentives to sign people up for a bundle of three courses such as certificates in social media advertising, critical soft skills and content creation.
https://www.straitstimes.com/singap...-skillsfuture-singapores-marketing-guidelines
