Four hundred and twenty youths are now ready for the labour force after completing training in 40 areas at the Government Technical Institute at Woolford Avenue, Georgetown.
They participated on Tuesday in the institution’s annual graduation exercise at the National Cultural Centre.
Principal (acting) Onwuzirike Chinedu in his overview of the institution said that a total of 660 candidates wrote the Guyana Technical Education Examination (GTEE) and 396 students were successful; 95 were referred in one or two subjects and 69 failed, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
This represents a 60 percent success rate, 30 percent referrals and 10 percent failures, which shows a deviation from what was projected, the principal said, noting that the expected success rate was 65 percent.
Meanwhile, the institute continues to record an average of 83 percent pass rate for individual subjects, Chinedu said and pointed out that this reflected the administration’s target at the GTEE.
On the list of graduates were persons who successfully completed the final examinations for the Foundation Certificate in Accountancy (FCA) and the Technical Teachers Training in Education (TTTE).
The FCA programme was sponsored by the Public Service Ministry. The principal said that while the administration is not satisfied with the percentage pass-rate, he noted that they are still proud of the fact the GTI produces persons of high academic performance and excellence, and the institute’s graduates can be found in every economic activity in the country.
The students completed training in areas such as bricklaying, carpentry and joinery, plumbing, building and civil engineering, architectural drawing, commerce, secretarial science, computer science, radio and electronics and refrigeration servicing, electrical installation, telecommunications, land surveying, mechanical engineering, agricultural machinery, welding and accountancy.
Over the years, GINA reported, there has been an expansion in the institution’s curriculum and to boost its capacity a new Board of Governors and administration was formed in 2006 with a mandate to steer the institute forward.
In addition the institution has been engaged in staff development and several programmes are projected for 2009.
Prime Minister Samuel Hinds presented Mirza Shah, Valedictorian of 2008 with his award. Shah urged his colleagues to upkeep the good values and qualities that they learnt and encouraged them to pursue higher education and to stay and help develop the country.
The GTI was established in 1957 with a mandate to offer education and training to youths and adults in technical, commercial and scientific fields, relevant to the needs of the national economy, GINA added.
