THE healthcare sector is facing a shortage of physiotherapists and occupational therapists ("Thye Hua Kwan to expand therapist pool by up to 50%"; March 27).
Currently, the training for the two professions involves a three-year course at Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP).
Those who make a mid-career switch under the Workforce Development Agency's (WDA) professional conversion programme have to take the three-year course as well.
But for this group of people, three years is a relatively long time, and they will also experience a loss of income, even though they are given training allowances.
To encourage more mid-career switchers to enter this field, the WDA and Ministry of Health could consider working with NYP to provide a shorter, specially tailored diploma course for this group, similar to the Education Ministry's one-year postgraduate diploma course for trainee teachers.
The trainees can be paid full salaries while undergoing intensive training, and forgo the usual polytechnic vacations.
The shorter training period will allow more qualified therapists to join the sector in a shorter period of time.
This may thus help solve the problem of a shortage of physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
Teo Chew Been (Madam)
Currently, the training for the two professions involves a three-year course at Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP).
Those who make a mid-career switch under the Workforce Development Agency's (WDA) professional conversion programme have to take the three-year course as well.
But for this group of people, three years is a relatively long time, and they will also experience a loss of income, even though they are given training allowances.
To encourage more mid-career switchers to enter this field, the WDA and Ministry of Health could consider working with NYP to provide a shorter, specially tailored diploma course for this group, similar to the Education Ministry's one-year postgraduate diploma course for trainee teachers.
The trainees can be paid full salaries while undergoing intensive training, and forgo the usual polytechnic vacations.
The shorter training period will allow more qualified therapists to join the sector in a shorter period of time.
This may thus help solve the problem of a shortage of physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
Teo Chew Been (Madam)
