About a quarter of jobs in Singapore
could disappear by 2030 thanks to automation.
That translates to 800m jobs lost globally.
School education is the first step
to equipping future generations for this jobs revolution.
Singapore is often at the top of the OECD's ranking that tests
15-year-olds' abilities in science, reading, maths,
and problem solving.
But experts argue that soft skills such as adaptability,
agility, and an openness to change
are essential to deal with the jobs of tomorrow.
Singapore's minister for education, Ong Ye Kung,
says the city state's emphasis on academic excellence
may have deprived students of the innovative spirit,
entrepreneurial zest, and survival instincts needed
in the real world.
But now, the city state is bringing the world of work
closer to schools.
Mr Ong is exploring ways to apply features
of the Swiss education system - classroom study combined
with apprenticeships - to Singapore.
And by 2023, all Singaporean primary schools
will have an Applied Learning Programme
aimed at nurturing creativity and innovation
to prepare Singapore's children for the future.
Under the SkillsFuture Initiative,
all Singaporeans aged 25 and above are given about $400
to choose among 18,000 courses aimed at improving work skills.
As of December 2016, more than 120,000 people,
4 per cent of eligible Singaporeans,
had signed up, with more than 60 per cent
being over 40 years of age.
If successful, Singapore will have an education revolution
to match the job revolution that is just around the corner.