From next year, O-level holders will be able to start their Nitec courses at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) in January, instead of April.

Currently, ITE offers two intakes for Nitec courses annually - one in January for N-level graduates, and another in April for O-level students. With O-level results being released in January now, it will allow these graduates to begin their Nitec courses earlier, alongside the N-level students, ITE said in a media release on Wednesday.

This announcement comes one day before the release of the N-level results on Thursday. Enrolment into ITE's Higher Nitec courses remains unchanged, in April.

The institute will also introduce a new Nitec course in Electronics (Display Technology) next year. It will take in its first batch of 40 students in January. Three of its existing Nitec courses will also be phased out, and will be replaced by four revamped courses. Its current three one-year long Service Skills Nitec courses in Office, Retail and Tourism will be replaced by four two-year Nitec courses in Business Services, Finance Services, Retail Services and Travel and Tourism Services. ITE said this change was to better prepare students for the job market and to boost their career advancement opportunities.

N-level holders can apply for ITE's full-time courses from Dec 19, and its traineeship courses from Dec 20. O-level holders can apply for entrance to ITE following the release of their O-level results in January.