Engage workplace volunteers to help develop students

Educating students cannot be relegated purely to parents and teachers ("Work-study scheme: Grooming students for the workplace"; Oct 26).

The people in the workplace can and should play their part in helping students inculcate sound values and practices so that the students become useful members of the economy and responsible citizens.

They can be part of volunteer groups that can help teachers and complement the curriculum by training the young on work-readiness, entrepreneurship, financial literacy and other skills, to help them capitalise on opportunities in the 21st century.

They can bring to students real-world experience and wisdom through a variety of projects and programmes.

In addition, they can organise relevant and hands-on workshops as part of classroom lessons or co-curricular activities. They can also arrange internships and job-shadow programmes to help the young understand the realities of the working world.

Leadership and business training, projects and competitions can be conducted to enhance their knowledge, skills and behaviour.

To help expand students' potential and develop their work-readiness, these groups can also work with them to co-create new concepts, ideas and solutions for the workplace.

The young have a tremendous amount of potential for creativity, innovation and action.

When volunteers work closely with schools, they can help to unleash and channel their energy for the good of the community and groom the students to become better leaders in future.

Patrick Liew Siow Gian (Dr)

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