The $350M National Training Programme for Youth Empowerment launched the cosmetology aspect of its programme on Wednesday.
The programme falls under the auspices of the Board of Industrial Training at the Ministry of Labour and was officially launched by Chairman Dr Dale Bisnauth. According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release training is done in collaboration with, and at public and private sector agencies and is currently in its second phase.
The 75 participants would be attached to Nayelli’s, Anna’s and Thumbs Up cosmetology schools for a period of three months. Students were drawn from across Region Four and some areas in Region Three and in addition to intensive training in all aspects of cosmetology they are expected to be tutored in literacy, numeracy, HIV/AIDS awareness and other life skills such as attitudes and micro-enterprise development. The trainees are also provided with a stipend to assist with transportation costs and are equipped with the basic tools and safety gear required for their respective vocation.
In delivering the charge at a simple ceremony Minister Manzoor Nadir told the students that government had invested millions of dollars in their development and as such expected good results. “This is a big sacrifice on behalf of the taxpayers in Guyana,” he said, urging them to commit themselves to the programme. “You have a unique opportunity to learn a skill that will do you well in the future,” he said. According to GINA the minister also noted that the programme is a three-year project targeting 5250 early-school leavers and out-of-school youth between the ages of 16 and 25.
Bisnauth echoed Nadir’s call for commitment and dedication to the programme. It is intended to provide a wide range of entry skills in trades such as carpentry, welding, plumbing, surveying, refrigeration and air-conditioning, leather craft and clerical proficiency. GINA said $104M has been earmarked for the cosmetology phase of the programme which comes to an end in mid-2009. Life Skills Education was also emphasised at the launching to ensure that the trainees are competent in basic literacy skills.
