SINGAPORE - New bus captains will now have to go for standardised centralised training at a new bus academy, which was officially opened on Monday (Oct 17).

They will have to undergo the five-day Enhanced Vocational Licence Training Programme in order to obtain their Omnibus Drivers' Vocational Licence at the Singapore Bus Academy.

The programme comprises six modules which give an overview of their public transport industry; omnibus driver's vocational licence and regulations; sectoral tripartism; overview of the bus ticketing system and common fleet management systems; service literacy; and safe driving techniques.

The academy, which is located at the Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability in Jurong East, is part of the Industry Manpower Plan for the public bus industry.

"Under the bus contracting model, service standards and the bus fleet will be enhanced further," said Senior Minister of State for Transport Josephine Teo, who attended the opening. "However, we all know that this must be complemented by an equal focus on bus professionals."

The programme will be conducted by in-house trainers as well as trainers from the National Transport Workers' Union, SBS Transit and SMRT.