Press Room

The Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) has announced a new Youth Link initiative to provide support and outreach to out-of-school youth (or OSY - youth who dropped out of the mainstream school system), as well as truants (students who have stayed away from school without permission for between 6 months and a year).

The pilot programme, launched in January 2007, is supported by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and administered by the National Youth Council (NYC). Youth Link is open to Singapore citizens or permanent residents who between 12 and 17 (i.e. eligible for Secondary One to Secondary Five education).

Schools will contact voluntary welfare organizations (VWOs) participating in Youth Link to put them in touch with students who will be leaving the school. Prior to the formal departure of the student from the school, the VWO will in the first instance seek to persuade the student to remain in school, and thereafter will provide the necessary socio-emotional support should he/she decide to stay on.

If the student nevertheless proceeds to leave the school, the VWO will provide outreach and support for one year, working with the student and his/her family, as well as providing counselling, skills development and advice, with the goal of helping the student reach one of the desired outcomes.

The four desired outcomes for participants are:

1. Retaining truants or re-admitting OSYs back into mainstream schools, with the goal of completing at least their 'N' levels;


2. Engaging OSYs in non school-based education, vocational learning and trainings with the goal of completing at least some recognised certification or diploma;


3. Assisting older OSYs to obtain gainful employment; or


4. Ensuring early NS enlistment for male OSYs.

Youth Link complements existing MCYS initiatives targeted at youth at-risk, such as:

a. STEP-UP, which funds voluntary welfare organizations (VWOs) to provide social work services to students in school at risk of juvenile delinquency, or of dropping out of school (additional details in Annex A) and

b. The Alternative Learning Centre programme, which funds VWOs to operate private learning centres. These learning centres are targeted at OSYs who wish to continue with their education (additional details in Annex B).

The four VWOs participating in the pilot run of Youth Link are:

a. Project 180 (Youth Services) [managed by Fei Yue Community Services]

Address: Blk 145 Simei Street 2 #01-06 S(520145)
Tel: 6787 1125
Website: www.fycs.org

b. YMCA Project Bridge [managed by Young Men's Christian Association]

Address: Blk 829B Woodlands Drive 50, 301-177 S(731892)
Tel: 6362 0700
Website:www.ymca.org.sg

c. 4PM (Malay Youth Literary Association)

Address: Blk 606 Bedok Reservoir Road #01-716 S(470606)
Tel:6242 6288
Website:www.4pm.org.sg

d. Yayasan MENDAKI

Address: Wisma Mendaki, 51 Kee Sun Avenue S(457056)
Tel:6245 5779
Website:www.mendaki.org.sg

Youth Link will serve as a safety net to keep truants and other students facing difficulties from dropping out of the mainstream school system, where possible. For students who do drop out of school, Youth Link will serve as a lifeline, and provide an avenue through which OSYs can continue to receive the necessary guidance and support to stay out of trouble, overcome their challenges, and go on to realize their potential.

For additional information, please contact:

Ms. Ilyani Suhaimi, Executive Officer (Youth Services), National Youth Council -
DID: 68399163; Email: Ilyani_SUHAIMI@pa.gov.sg

ANNEX A

STEP-UP

Introduction

In March 2004, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports introduced STEP-UP (School social work To Empower Pupils to Utilize Potential) which funds Voluntary Welfare Organisations (VWO) to provide provision of school social work to students in schools, focusing in particular on students at risk of juvenile delinquency, or of dropping out of school.

With effect from January 2007, the National Council of Social Service has taken over the programme administration of STEP-UP.

Objectives of STEP-UP

The goal of STEP-UP is to complement the school system with programmes that strengthen the social and emotional resilience of students, to enable them to better cope with challenges, and to maximise their schooling experience. The key outcomes that the programme aims to achieve include:

Reduction of anti-social behaviour among student at risk, in particular, reduction in the number of out-of-school youth and juvenile offenders

Parents who are empowered to better support and manage their children

Support for teachers and school management in managing anti-social behaviours among students

Funding Criteria

Funding is up to 75% for each school social work programme, subject to a cap of $37,500 for the first and second year. Thereafter funding will remain at 50% of the programme cost, capped at $25,000 for the following three years. The funding will be reviewed annually.

Status

As of end January 2007, there are currently 152 schools participating in STEP-UP, including 56 primary schools, 89 secondary schools, 1 junior college and 6 Vocational Training Centres/ITE campuses. This is an increase of nearly 40% from January 2006, when there was a total of 109 schools in STEP-UP.

ANNEX B

Alternative Learning Centre Programme

MCYS co-funds VWOs to administer Alternative Learning Centres for OSYs who wish to continue pursuing their education. Additional details on the three ALCs currently being funded are provided below:

(1) TOUCH Youth Learning Centre (TOUCH YLC)

TOUCH YLC assists out-of-school youths between the ages of 15 to 19 years to attain their GCE 'O' or 'N' level certificates. The youths attend school daily from Monday to Friday. Besides learning academic skills, TOUCH YLC also seeks to help youths acquire lifeskills that aim to bring about positive changes in their lives.

Address:Blk 162 Bukit Merah Central #05-3545 Singapore 150162
Tel:6270 0897
Website: http://www.tcs.com.sg/service/st_youth/01.html?item=2

(2) City Harvest Education Centre (CHEC)

CHEC provides full-time GCE 'O' and 'N' level courses. Class size is capped at a maximum of 25 students and school fees are made affordable through monthly installments. CHEC provides a vibrant and dynamic learning environment for the character and academic development of each individual.

Address:73 Bras Basah Road NTUC Trade Union House
#07-01 Singapore 189556
Tel: 6511 6833
Website: www.chec.edu.sg

(3) Max Out Programme by Yayasan MENDAKI

Max Out is an alternative skills readiness programme for out-of-school youths to reach their potential in both academic attainment and character development. The programme aims to raise the level of skills of these youths so that they can progress to further their studies, or be gainfully employed.

Address: Wisma MENDAKI 51 Kee Sun Avenue Singapore 457056
Tel: 6245 5710
Website: www.mendaki.org.sg

MCYS MEDIA RELEASE NO: 24/2007
DATE OF ISSUE: 09/03/2007