Forum: Give AI tool subscription to those studying on their own too
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Singapore has consistently encouraged workers to embrace lifelong learning, take ownership of their skills and remain adaptable as technology transforms the workplace.
Against this backdrop, I question why eligibility for financial support for AI tool subscriptions under NTUC’s UTAP scheme should depend on enrolment in an eligible AI course offered by an approved training provider.
Structured training certainly has value. But should attendance at a registered course be the main way of demonstrating that someone is learning or capable of using AI?
AI is fundamentally changing how people acquire knowledge. People can now learn prompting, coding, research, data analysis, automation and application development through documentation, online resources, open-source communities, experimentation and AI tools themselves. And generative AI can function as an interactive tutor, explaining concepts, reviewing work, and guiding users through increasingly complex tasks.
A self-directed learner may spend hundreds of hours developing practical AI skills and building working projects, while another person may simply complete an approved course. Course attendance alone does not necessarily demonstrate greater AI literacy or practical competency.
This is particularly relevant to unemployed and mid-career Singaporeans trying to reskill while managing limited financial resources. Requiring them to enrol in a prescribed course just to become eligible for AI tool support could create an unnecessary barrier to the self-directed learning Singapore seeks to encourage. There should be other ways for individuals to validate their AI literacy without attending a course.
For example, applicants could complete a standardised online AI literacy assessment, submit evidence of self-directed learning, demonstrate projects or applications they have built, or complete a short competency-based assessment. These approaches would measure what a person can actually do, rather than where he learnt it.
Those who benefit from structured courses should continue to receive support. But formal training should just be one pathway to demonstrating AI competency, not the only pathway.
As AI develops at unprecedented speed, self-learning will become increasingly important. If Singapore wants a workforce that is adaptable, resourceful and AI-literate, we should recognise demonstrated competency and initiative alongside formal course attendance.
Foo Siang Yee
