SINGAPORE - More than 18,000 individuals have tapped on their SkillsFuture Credit from January to March this year, Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung said in Parliament on Friday (April 8).

"This is a healthy number - not a mad rush, yet a good response," explained Mr Ong, adding that about $5.2 million has been disbursed under this initiative.

About 16.5 per cent of those who have utilised their credits are aged 60 and above.

More than 2 million people can now use $500 in credit each to pay for courses to hone their craft or learn a new skill. The credits do not expire and will be topped up at various intervals, so they can be accumulated for more expensive courses.

Mr Ong said the list of eligible courses will be expanded over time. More than 12,500 courses - from baking to financial literacy -are now available to Singaporeans aged 25 and above, from about 10,000 courses in January.