Dear Editor,
It is no trivial matter that the “People’s Progressive Party/Civic Government is partnering with key stakeholders to ensure TVET skills reach our young people and general workforce.” This is something that must be made much of, and I appeal to the public to ‘latch on,’ since the commitment from the Government is to facilitate, for free, “those who have the technical aptitude, with the provision of the same level of counsel and facilities, that are enjoyed by those inclined towards being purely academic.” What we all need to realise is that Technical and Vocational Education Training, or TVET, as we are wont to say, is trending and with good reasons.
First, Technical and Vocational Educa-tion and Training (TVET) is crucial for the development of the world’s economy. It is especially important for developing countries such as Guyana, so that they can prepare for the skills demand of the 21st century. In fact, TVET has gained popularity and is considered a driving force for sustainable development, as it focuses on work-based learning and promotes self-employment, and thus contribute to the development of nations. So vital is TVET that it plays a key role in the United Nations’ educational goals. Let me add that one of the key benefits of TVET is its ability to help fill the skills gap in the current job market.
As we all know, a skills gap is a mismatch between the skills that employers need and the skills that job seekers have. This, of course, can result in a lack of qualified candidates for certain jobs, and can lead to problems for businesses that are unable to find the talent they need to grow and thrive. Right now, the TVET drive is on, and according to the Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, “… this commitment is shared by the Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI) Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) programme, which was conceptualised to develop the local workforce and build human capacity through the enhancement of education to promote sustainable economic diversification in Guyana.”
Behind this governmental push is also Exxon’s President, Alistair Routledge, who lauded the TVET programme at the Centre, deeming it “a project with a great purpose.” He rightly noted that “The long-term project must be to revolutionise education and learning in this country; we must ensure that the children who have the aptitudes to be technical are given the same counsel and guidance and facilities at an early age.” Routledge is a key figure with the country’s vision herein, as “… the US$100 million upskilling programme (runs for) a ten-year period of investment made by the Stabroek Block co-ventures, ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Hess Guy-ana Exploration Limited, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Council for Technical and Vocational Education Training (C-TVET) and LearnCorp International.”
Editor, I am behind this kind of thinking and investment, maybe it is time some technical/practical training be introduced into our high school programme. I know that in Ontario, Canada students will soon have to take a technology or trade credit in order to graduate. The plan is that beginning in September 2024, students entering Grade 9 will be required to take a course of “technological education credit”, a move the Doug Ford government says will help guide them toward careers in a skilled workforce.
What I like is the gathering momentum and continuity of our TVET programme. It is now in its second phase. It commenced in 2020 between New Amsterdam and Linden Technical Institutes, “… when the learning institutes underwent a major overhaul, resulting in the retrofitting of its workshops with modern equipment directly enhancing the learning experience for students in the areas of Electrical Installation and Welding.” Indeed, no young person in Guyana can complain of being left out or not having study opportunities.
Sincerely,
HB Singh
