These students completed the Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications programme at the institute.

Mayor of Central Singapore District Zainuddin Bordin was the guest of honour at the graduation ceremony and presented the class with their certificates.

Of the 145, 14 students were among the first to complete a course conducted in Mandarin, a departure from the regular English medium of teaching for those with a poor grasp of English.

To date, about 14,000 people have filled the 23,000 retail-related training places offered by the Institute since its establishment in January 2006.

WDA deputy chief executive Goh Eng Ghee said: 'We are confident that the graduates will find that skills upgrading pays and we urge more workers to similarly embrace lifelong learning so that they too can advance with skills.'