Forum: Training is a service to be delivered responsibly

The upcoming ban by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) on the use of third-party promoters by training providers is a necessary and timely move to restore confidence in the adult education sector (

SkillsFuture training providers barred from using third-party promoters from Dec 1

, Oct 9).

I am the co-founder and managing director of @ASK Training, a Continuing Education and Training centre. The move directly addresses longstanding concerns about the way courses are marketed and how learner data is handled.

It places accountability squarely with the training providers themselves. When only approved providers can promote or enrol learners, there is a clear chain of responsibility. Learners can expect accurate course information, transparent funding details, and assurance that their personal data is handled securely under the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA).

This policy change also raises professional standards across the training industry. Providers must now focus on building trust and credibility through quality programmes and sound learner advisory processes, rather than relying on third parties to drive enrolments.

It will also likely reduce instances of over-promising and encourage providers to align marketing messages more closely with actual learning outcomes.

Beyond compliance, the new framework reinforces the idea that training is not a product to be sold out but a service to be delivered responsibly. Learners deserve honest guidance and clarity about what each course can offer.

SSG’s decision sets a clear standard for the future, where adult education in Singapore remains learner-centred, credible, and guided by ethical practice.

Kuah Siau Hian