Graduates from the New Amsterdam Technical Insti-tute (NATI) were urged to capitalise on the opportunities available in the region and to seek higher education at the institute’s 36th graduation exercise hosted recently.
According to a Govern-ment Information Agency (GINA) the students are now equipped with skills in areas such as electrical installation, plumbing, agricultural mechanics, welding, metal machining, secretarial science, telecommunication, carpentry and joinery, brick-laying, radio and electronics. Principal Ronald Simon said that the institution has recorded a success rate of 82% with 100 passes in most areas. He said despite some challenges, the institute was able to perform on par with others.
In his address to the graduates Prime Minister Samuel Hinds told them government is continuing to explore new economic ventures in the region and their skills will be needed, especially with the establishment of the Skeldon Sugar Modernisation Project. He also urged them to stay in the region and to help build on the development that already exists.
Meanwhile, Regional Education Development Officer Shafiran Bhajan told the graduates that in an era of technological and economic challenges they needed to empower themselves. She said that technical and vocational education is important; pointing out that government has made significant investments in this field in Region Six.
Bhajan said the region boasts two such institutions NATI and the Upper Corentyne Skills Training Centre. She said the region aims to empower youth to become more responsive to the needs of the local economy while competing in the global economy.
In this regard, Bhajan said the technical and vocational curricula at NATI have been reformed to meet these demands and a 15-member Board of Governors has been formed to assist. “With these reforms, the youth will be better able to turn the wheel of tomorrow’s economy,” she said, adding that in “a time of technological changes, skills become quickly obsolete.”
Additionally, valedictorian Nikita Williams encouraged her colleagues to learn from the experiences to make themselves better individuals by maintaining what they have learnt. According to GINA the institute was established in 1971. The release said Regional Vice Chairman Dennis Deroop and other regional representatives also attended the ceremony at the NATI compound in New Amsterdam, East Berbice.
