Learning for life

Seniors have access to a wide range of affordable activities and courses to keep them engaged

THE National Silver Academy (NSA) was started when seniors interested in lifelong learning highlighted barriers such as limited learning options and affordability.

NSA, launched in May this year, is administered by Council for Third Age (C3A) and is an initiative under the Action Plan for Successful Ageing.

Seniors aged 50 and above can explore and sign up for NSA courses offered by partner institutions island-wide that include arts and educational institutes as well as community-based organisations.

In addition to the courses available till the end of this year, a new batch of learning opportunities from January to June next year was released this month on the NSA website, adding more than 700 course titles and offering more than 14,000 learning places, These cover topics from effective management of medication to confinement nanny training.

Eligible seniors can receive subsidies of up to 50 per cent off course fees (capped at $500 per course) for short courses offered by post-secondary education institutions.

Most NSA courses are eligible for SkillsFuture Credit. For example, the acting course at LASALLE College of the Arts is conducted over 24 hours over eight sessions in February and April next year. The course fee after subsidy is $255. 70, which can be paid using SkillsFuture Credit.

Should seniors wish to pursue “exam-free” modules from certificate, diploma, past-diploma and full degree programmes, they can attend these classes with regular students for a token fee as low as below $100 without formal assessment.

NSA also offers Ad-hoc Learning Opportunities such -as free talks and the Intergenerational Learning Programme – in which seniors are paired with younger students to learn about topics like public speaking, social media and music.

With a wide network of partner institutions all across the island, seniors can find learning opportunities in their neighbourhoods.

Visit www.nsa.org.sg or call the NSA hotline managed by C3A on 6478-5029 for more information.

Learning hub

NTUC LearningHub (LHUB) has designated a section on its website for elder-friendly courses.

“We offer courses to equip senior learners with positive working, leaming and contributing behaviours, skills and attitudes,” says Mr Darren Lee, head of corporate communications and marketing at LHUB.

He adds: “We also believe in continuous learning and equipping our seniors with the necessary skill sets and knowledge to enable them to stay active, whether for work, or to pursue their personal interests in an ever-increasing technology-based society.”

Some of LHUB’s course offerings include guiding, mentoring and working in an intergenerational environment.

Popular with seniors are basic information technology courses that teach Web surfing, remote communicatlon and e-mail through the use of computers and tablets, notes Mr Lee.

One such course is Employability Skills Workforce Skills Qualifications – Use Primary Functions and Applications of a Tablet. This is eligible for SkillsFuture funding and seniors can also use their SkillsFuture Credit to offset the remaining course fees (subsidised fee $54.40, U.P. $342.40).

“Our Burlington English courses are also popular with the older generation,” Mr Lee says.

Go to www.ntuclearninghub.com or visit its branches at NTUC Trade Union House, e2i (Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability), LHUB Industry Skills Centre@ Benoi and Sales Centre @ Jurong East Bus interchange for more information.

Senior academy

With a network of 108 community clubs and centres (CCs) island-wide, People’s Association (PA) offers a multitude of courses for all ages and interests.

Last year in February, PA launched its Senior Academy, aimed to encourage more seniors to pursue lifelong learning aspirations and lead an active lifestyle by providing accessible and affordable senior-friendly curriculum/programmes.

The academy, with enrolment currently available at 20 CCs (from $50 for PAssion Card Members), has two tracks in English and Mandarin, and attendees who complete the fundamental structured programme will be awarded the Basic Certificate in Senior Wellness.

The four core modules include Graceful Ageing through Traditional Chinese Medicine, while elective courses (supplement from $10 for PAssion Card Members per course) are categorised under Body (fitness and exercise), Mind (learning new skills) and Soul (leisure activities such as cooking and gardening).

Other programmes offered include Advanced Certificate in Senior Wellness, Golden Work Series and Seniors for Smart Nation Series.

Some new and interesting courses include 3D Printing Wonders and Fun with Music on Smartphones/Tablets.