Learning goals and provider routes
Singapore has external courses for domestic helpers covering English, Mandarin, money management, computer literacy and cooking. The two providers identified by MOM are ACMI (Archdiocesan Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People) and Aidha. This guide helps you choose a course by learning goal, check the provider's current offerings and schedule attendance around household duties and rest days. Apex Maids is not a training provider, partner or accreditor.
By APEX Maids Agency Pte. Ltd. · MOM EA Licence 25C3180 · UEN 202547196H. Based in Jurong West and serving households across Singapore. Our website is apexmaids.sg and our phone is 8405 6661.
Before browsing courses, agree on what the learning goal is and whose idea it is. A helper who wants to improve her English for daily communication has a different need from one the employer wants to learn basic cooking. Both are valid, but the motivation and the schedule should be discussed openly.
MOM's published feature on useful courses identifies ACMI and Aidha as providers of skills development courses for migrant domestic workers. This guide covers these two; it is a scoped selection, not an exhaustive directory of every course available in Singapore.
ACMI's skills development page advertises courses including English (Levels 1 to 4), conversational Mandarin (Levels 1 and 2), conversational Cantonese (Level 1), computer literacy, money management, and cooking and baking. The page checked on 20 October 2026 already showed a January to June 2027 semester.
Fees, materials, class schedules and entry requirements vary by course. Check the ACMI skills development page for the current semester details, fee schedule and registration. Do not rely on fees or dates published here; they can change between semesters.
Aidha's courses overview lists modules covering money and technology, financial future planning and English. The English course page describes an elementary English programme for migrant domestic workers: basic letter, grammar and vocabulary are assumed as a starting point, there is an entrance quiz, classes run every other Sunday over approximately six months, and an attendance certificate is issued on completion.
Current fees, intake dates and registration details can change. Check the Aidha courses page directly and confirm registration steps with the provider. Do not treat dates from older website sections as current intakes.
| Learning goal | Provider to check | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Improve daily English | ACMI (Levels 1 to 4) or Aidha (elementary) | Entry level, schedule, whether it fits her rest day |
| Learn conversational Mandarin or Cantonese | ACMI (Mandarin Levels 1 to 2, Cantonese Level 1) | Whether the dialect matches the household language need |
| Money management and budgeting | ACMI (money management) or Aidha (money and tech) | Course content, any prerequisite, practical relevance |
| Basic computer or digital skills | ACMI (computer) or Aidha (technology modules) | What devices or platforms the course covers |
| Cooking or baking | ACMI (cooking and baking) | Cuisine type, class format, ingredients and materials |
Swipe sideways to read every column.
Use this worksheet to compare a course before registering. Print it (Ctrl+P or Cmd+P) and fill in by hand. This is a household planning aid, not a registration form.
| Item | Your notes |
|---|---|
| Learning goal | ________________________________________ |
| Her current level (self-assessed or tested) | ________________________________________ |
| Provider | ________________________________________ |
| Course name and level | ________________________________________ |
| Fees and materials cost | $ ______ |
| Schedule (day, time, duration) | ________________________________________ |
| Travel from home to class location | ________________________________________ |
| Entry assessment or prerequisite | ________________________________________ |
| Her interest (discussed, not assumed) | ________________________________________ |
| Contact or registration link | ________________________________________ |
| Household arrangement | |
| Who covers her duties while she is at class? | ________________________________________ |
| Is this on her rest day or a working day? | ________________________________________ |
| Rest day protection confirmed? | ________________________________________ |
Registration and payments go to the course provider, not to Apex Maids. Confirm current fees, intake dates and entry requirements directly with the provider before registering.
Many courses run on Sundays, which is a common rest day for helpers. Attending a class on her rest day is her choice, not a work requirement. If the course falls on a working day, arrange household cover so that the time spent at class does not come at the expense of her rest entitlement. MOM's rest day guidance requires at least one rest day per week, and at least one rest day each month cannot be compensated away.
See the rest day rules for the full requirements.
Aidha's English course page says it issues an attendance certificate, without an official qualification or formal grading. For any other programme, ask the provider what completion document it awards and what it establishes. Do not assume attendance alone proves language proficiency or clinical competence. A completed English course does not prove that the helper can handle complex medical instructions, and a cooking class does not certify her ability to manage your household kitchen unsupervised.
Similarly, class attendance does not replace the practical assessment you do at home. Use the English communication assessment to check household-specific communication after the course, and the eldercare training checklist to verify care competency separately.
Apex Maids does not run, accredit or partner with any course provider. This guide makes no claim that any individual helper has completed a particular course; check each candidate's actual experience and evidence separately. Registration, fees, schedules and certification are between the helper and the provider. If you have questions about which course suits a learning goal, we can discuss the options, but we are an employment agency, not a training institution.
If communication or a specific skill is a priority, start with the right candidate before considering a course. Start your helper search from the household duties, or ask Apex for a shortlist that matches the language and experience your home needs. A course can supplement, not substitute for, the right match.
A course is a choice you make together, not a work requirement to replace rest.
Questions
Class attendance alone does not establish household communication or clinical competence. Aidha states that its English course issues an attendance certificate without an official qualification or formal grading. Ask each provider what its own award establishes and assess household-specific skills separately.
No. Apex Maids is an employment agency, not a training provider, partner or accreditor. The external courses in this guide are not delivered or accredited by Apex, and this guide does not certify any candidate’s course completion. Registration and fees go directly to the course provider.
MOM identifies ACMI and Aidha as providers of skills development courses for migrant domestic workers. Use the linked provider pages to compare their current learning areas, entry requirements, fees and registration. This guide covers these two providers rather than every course in Singapore.
Attending a course on a rest day is her choice, not a work requirement. Time spent at a class is not the same as rest. Ensure she still has genuine rest time and that attending is voluntary. See the rest day rules on this site for the full MOM requirements.
No. A cooking class teaches techniques, but practical suitability depends on your household meals, preferences and kitchen. Discuss her cooking experience and ask for examples during the interview, and observe her work at home after she starts.
Talk to us
Tell us the duties, language and experience your home needs. We shortlist candidates against the brief before you decide.
