THE Government will invest $3.5 billion in the polytechnic sector over the next 10 years to boost opportunities for students to upgrade themselves.

Of that, $1.6 billion will go to a new institute to offer a more direct route for polytechnic graduates to get degrees here.

The new Singapore Institute of Applied Technology (SIAT), to be ready by 2011, will plan, manage and implement degree programmes offered by foreign universities and five polytechnics, Education Minister Ng Eng Hen told reporters on Tuesday morning.

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