Applications for vocational and skills‑based jobs in the Civil Service

Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on the applications for vocational and skills-based jobs in the Civil Service

Parliamentary Sitting: 8 January 2018

Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap: To ask the Prime Minister how and to what extent are O and A Level results considered in evaluating applications from older applicants for vocational and skills-based jobs in the Civil Service.

Written Reply by Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister in charge of the Civil Service.

The Civil Service recruits based on whether the applicant has the skills required for the job. Educational qualifications are useful as a proxy for skills when assessing applicants with no prior work experience. For mid-career and older applicants, relevant work experience and demonstrated skills are used to determine their suitability for the job, more so than their academic qualifications.