Courses under the Skills Upgrading Scheme will be reviewed and modifications made to ensure their recognition under the Qualifications Framework and help trainees to pursue continuing education, Permanent Secretary for Labour & Welfare Paul Tang says.

Opening the 2008 Skills Upgrading Charity Carnival today, Mr Tang said the Qualifications Framework aims to set industry competency standards to provide an environment conducive to lifelong learning. The Skills Upgrading Scheme has so far drawn up courses in hairdressing, printing and watch making.

Launched in 2001, more than 10,000 classes have been offered under the scheme, which covers 26 industries and has offered more than 200,000 training places.

To keep track of the scheme's effectiveness, some courses were evaluated and the majority of the trainees, their employers and supervisors gave a positive response.

Employers and employees are urged to support for the scheme, and in-service workers should pursue continuing education to help boost manpower quality.