INSTEAD of just targeting working adults, the national matchmaker is widening its scope and pitching its message at more younger people.

Since the start of this year, the Social Development Unit-Social Development Service (SDU-SDS) has run programmes to teach students at post-secondary level the secret to building meaningful relationships.

So far, the programme has kicked off in six schools, including junior colleges (JCs) and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE).

Eventually, SDU-SDS plans to reach out to all JCs and ITE campuses - a total of over 50,000 students.

The four-hour programme is the latest in a series of efforts to reach younger Singaporeans and bring them round to the idea of eventually getting married and having children.

It aims to imbue students with 'the mindset and skills needed to build meaningful and mutually respectful relationships', and covers areas such as communication, self-esteem, romance and commitment.

By teaching teens about the building blocks of relationships, the matchmaker hopes to lead them into creating fulfilling bonds and getting married and having children sooner rather than later, instead of deferring this to pursue other goals.

Minister of State for Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) Yu-Foo Yee Shoon has said that the programme for students is meant to reach them before it is too late.

Referring to a similar programme for polytechnic students, she said: 'We want to tell students: don't wait until you have built up your career. Sometimes, it's too late, especially for girls.'

Two polytechnics - Singapore and Ngee Ann - kicked off the trend of relationship courses for students when they ran a programme, developed with the SDU-SDS, in 2007.

The elective module 'Love Relations for Life: A Journey of Romance, Love and Sexuality' has been a hit at Singapore Polytechnic. The number of students signing up for it has trebled to 456 this semester, from the first cohort in 2007.

SDU-SDS told The Straits Times it is now in talks with the universities to introduce similar modules into their curriculums.

The efforts come as more singles defer marriage in favour of other life pursuits, such as moving ahead in their careers and beefing up their bank balances, said the SDU-SDS.

Fewer marriages - and the resultant shortage of babies to replace the population - are headaches for the Government.

To broaden the dating pool for singles, the SDU, which previously served graduate singles, merged with the SDS in January.

Mr James Ho, a teacher at Victoria Junior College (VJC), who sat through the latest programme, remarked that it was not a lesson in dating, but one which imparted social and communication skills, such as building a rapport with others and resolving conflicts.

'A lot of students found the programme fun and said they learnt a lot about themselves,' he said.

VJC, which put about 800 of its second-year students on the programme in January, plans to invite the trainers back in October for its first-year cohort.

Gabriel Chee, 17, said he started out sceptical, but was eventually won over. He learnt the importance of grooming.

'I thought pretty and handsome people had a headstart in getting people to like them. But I realise now that how we carry ourselves matters. If we groom ourselves well and are confident, we will also appeal to others,' he said.

This article was first published in  The Straits Times.