SINGAPORE - Students from Spectra and Crest secondary schools can now gain admission into the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) through their course-related skills via an enhanced admission scheme.

Students of these two specialised schools for Normal (Technical) students who perform well for their ITE Skills Certificate will be considered favourably for early admission to relevant Nitec courses, the Ministry of Education said on Tuesday (Oct 4).

This will be implemented starting from the 2017 NT cohort.

Currently students from secondary schools and specialised schools can enter ITEs through the Joint Intake Exercise or the Special College Admissions Scheme.

Under the first scheme, students from specialised schools are evaluated the same way as students from mainstream schools who take the N levels.

With the enhancement to the second scheme, students from specialised schools who graduate with the the ITE Skills Certificate can use their course related skills to apply for early admissions into ITE.

A student's performance in his course, recommendations from schools, achievements in co-curricular activities, and socio-emotional competencies will also be taken into account for early admission.

Students also have to meet the Minimum Entry Requirement of the course after the release of the N-level results, similar to students from mainstream schools.