FirstCom Academy suspended for failing to comply with SkillsFuture Singapore’s marketing guidelines

SINGAPORE – Education provider FirstCom Academy will be suspended for three months by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) for using a marketing referral program that is against its requirements for education providers.

The activities of the company, which provides courses in various fields from digital marketing to people management, will be suspended from January 1, 2025 to March 31, 2025.

This means funding subsidies for all courses starting during this period will be suspended. These courses will not be eligible for Government course fee subsidies or SkillsFuture Credit.

SSG said in a statement on November 27 that it had been investigating FirstCom Academy’s marketing practices and course quality since the beginning of 2024, following “a great deal of feedback from the public”.

The agency will also discontinue two of FirstCom Academy’s Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) courses due to deficiencies in ensuring course quality.

SSG, which is coordinating the implementation of the national SkillsFuture movement, said FirstCom Academy will not be able to start WSQ courses during the suspension period.

On November 27, FirstCom Academy said on Instagram and Facebook that the WSQ course curriculum will undergo an improvement process in the first quarter of 2025 to provide a better learning experience.

No WSQ courses and course funding will be provided from January to March 2025.

“Please check back on April 1, 2025 for updates on our renewed course schedule. We look forward to offering a range of exciting new courses,” the company said.

SSG said FirstCom Academy will be responsible for informing students who enroll in their courses starting within the suspension period that their courses will not be funded by SSG or eligible for the SkillsFuture Credit. They also cannot receive the WSQ Statement of Achievement as the company cannot start WSQ courses during this time.

Students whose courses have started or have started before the suspension period will not be affected, even though their courses will only finish during this period. Those whose courses have not started at FirstCom Academy and do not wish to continue may contact the academy to make alternative arrangements.

They can also contact SSG for a list of similar courses offered by other training providers registered with SSG.

“For WSQ accreditation, courses need to be aligned with the skills and competencies of the Skills Frameworks validated by employers, unions and professional bodies,” SSG said, adding that this was to ensure the training students received was industry relevant.