Singapore Pest Management Association (SPMA) adopted the NSRS format for our industry because it is a national scheme for job skills competencies, alternative skills acquisition routes and skills certification for an industry in order to increase the competitiveness of Singapore goods and services in the global market.

Coming under the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA), NSRS:

1. Enables our workforce to enhance performance levels through a national framework of skills training and an independent assessment by Singapore Environment Institute (SEI) that is systematic and developed to a high standard that is relevant to local conditions.
   
2. Improves standard and quality of work so that clients will enjoy more effective, efficient and safe pest management service delivered by skillful personnel.
   
3. Has government support including course fee support from Skills Development Fund (SDF).

A NSRS Skills Standard describes the performance criteria for each skill set called a "Unit of Competence". This Skills Standard is drawn up by representatives of the pest management industry, under the guidance of WDA and National Environment Agency (NEA).

Presently 6 Units of Competence (NSC 3 Level) have been developed. They are:

1. Prepare Pest Management Equipment,
2. Treat Mosquito Infestation,
3. Treat Rodent Infestation,
4. Treat Cockroach Infestation,
5. Treat Fly Infestation, and
6. Treat Flea Infestation.

The following additional 6 are in the pipeline:

1. Prepare Pesticides (NSC 2),
2. Housekeeping and Sanitation Advice (NSC 2),
3. Provide Pre- and Post-Care Services (NSC 2),
4. Treat Termite Infestation (NSC 3),
5. Treat Ant Infestation (NSC 3), and
6. Treat Bee, Hornet and Wasp Infestation (NSC 3).

Training will be conducted by SPMA as an Approved Training Centre (ATC). The Pest Management Company (PMC) will supervise their Trainees when they practise in the field.

• Skills Upgrading Course Registration Form 
  
• Skills Upgrading Class Schedule

The Skills Upgrading Programme consists of 3 components:

Part A. - e-Learning

e-Learning consists of online web-based training skills courses.

Singapore Computer Systems Ltd (SCS) was selected to develop the courseware, to train and to monitor the performance of each trainee.

What this means is that there is a centralised pool of information for each Unit of Competence on the Internet. This helps overcome the problem of the lack of trainers in the industry. It also ensures that quality is consistently delivered and updates are made at anytime in a cost-effective manner.

Training will be conducted at:

• Singapore Computer Systems Ltd, 7 Bedok South Road, Singapore 469272.

Upon successful completion, SCS will forward the Progress Report on e-Learning to SPMA.

Part B. - Classroom Coaching

Based on each Skills Standard, Trainees are coached on a step-by-step basis to performing job tasks, the standards required for each task and the underpinning knowledge required. Learning is structured and systematic.

The teaching methodology used will be a combination of:

• Lectures
• Demonstration
• Hands-on activities
• Video presentations
• Pictures to simulate real live situations
• Group discussions with questions & answers.

Classroom Training will be conducted at 2 Approved Training Sites:

• Aardwolf Pestkare (S) Pte Ltd, 26 Third Lok Yang Road, Singapore 628015.
• Rentokil Initial Singapore Pte Ltd, 16 / 18 Jalan Mesin, Singapore 368815

Upon successful completion, SPMA will forward the Classroom Coaching Attendance Sheet and the e-Learning Evaluation Report to SEI. SPMA will notify PMC to proceed with the Field Practice.

Part C. - Field Practice

In the week following the completion of the Classroom Coaching, PMC will organise for Trainee to practise what he has learnt through a total of 7 hours of Field Practice. The Trainee has to be supervised by a senior staff member and the time can include service at the client's premises.

Upon completion to the satisfaction of the PMC, PMC will apply to SEI for NSRS Assessment, enclosing:

• Payment for the Assessment
• The duly completed Field Practice Log Book, with a copy sent to SPMA for its records.

PMC may apply for SDF Subsidy for all 3 components of training.

e-Learning and Classroom Coaching will enjoy Enhanced Funding, while Field Practice will enjoy Broadbase Funding at the prevailing rates.

SEI will only arrange for the Trainee to be assessed upon receipt of the following documents from PMC:

• e-Learning Evaluation Report,
• Classroom Coaching Log Book, and
• Field Practice Log Book.

Presently there are only 2 assessment sites approved by WDA:

• Aardwolf Pestkare (S) Pte Ltd
• Rentokil Initial (S) Pte Ltd

We would appreciate if more companies will offer their training facilities to SEI so that we can have more such assessment sites (and training sites). The ideal number for our industry would be a total of at least 10. Please contact the SPMA Secretariat if you would like to help out.

Any new assessment sites (or training sites) will be audited and approved by WDA before they can be utilised.

On completion of the assessment, SEI will send the result to NEA, copied to WDA, PMC and SPMA.

The NSRS Assessment will be conducted in a Practical Session, which includes oral Questions and Answers, simulated environment and treatment, which depending on the Unit of Competence, will include demonstration of the operation, trouble-shooting, maintenance and safety aspect involving 5 basic equipment. These are:

• Hand Duster
• Hand Sprayer
• Thermal Fogger
• Ultra-low Volume Machine
• Motor Blower

Trainees are required to bring along their equipment for the NSRS Assessment. This is to ensure that they are not disadvantaged with equipment they are not familiar with.

If a PMC is not using any of these basic equipment, it may contact any of these Suppliers for assistance:

• Agro Technic Pte Ltd (Tel: 65-6482 1828),
• Asiatic Agricultural Industries Pte Ltd (Tel: 65-6863 6337),
• Bentz Jaz Singapore Pte Ltd (Tel: 65-6841 2986), and
• Outboard & Marine (Pte) Ltd (Tel: 65-6298 6066).

Arrangements have been made with these Suppliers to train the Trainee in the use of any one of their equipment and to lend that equipment to the Trainee for use at the NSRS Assessment. They will charge a flat fee of $100 for each equipment.

If the Trainee's company purchases that equipment within 3 months from the date of NSRS Assessment, this $100 will be offset against the Invoice Price for that equipment. In short it is "One Trainee-One Equipment", which means that if you have 5 Trainees and purchase only 1 equipment, the offsetting is for $100, not the full $500 charged unless the PMC purchases 5 pieces.

If there is no such purchase within the 3-month window period, the $100 is non-refundable and is treated as the Supplier's Fee for the training and equipment rental.

Both NEA and WDA are not involved in this arrangement with the Suppliers.

The fee per unit per person is:

eLearning & Classroom Coaching	SPMA Member	Non SPMA Member	SEI Assessment Fee
Prepare Pest Management Equipment	$240.00	$320.00	$185.00
Treat Mosquito Infestation	$157.00	$209.00	$140.00
Treat Rodent Infestation	$157.00	$209.00	$140.00

7.

Recognition for NSRS-trained employees

SPMA recommends to both members and non-members to encourage their service staff to take their upgrading seriously by rewarding them with a Monthly NSRS Allowance of $10 for each Unit of Competence passed, subject to a recommended maximum of $50 per month.

8.

Training, an investment into the future

In professional pest management we are selling the knowledge and skills of our workforce. These knowledge and skills can only be effectively acquired through well-designed and organised training programmes.

This Skills Upgrading Programme for the pest management industry took SPMA 3 years to develop and is aimed at helping PMCs improve. It took the commitment of many people, both inside and outside our industry, to make it happen. It lays the foundation for building a more professional industry.

Yes, training incurs expenses, time and effort, but shouldn't this be your investment if you wish to survive in an environment where our clients are becoming more knowledgeable and demanding?

Governing Council
Singapore Pest Management Association