The Board of Industrial Training (BIT) launched its newest course in Linden with over 60 persons enrolled.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release the ministry had purchased two bobcats and attachment blades to facilitate this programme which will turn out heavy-duty equipment operators.
One of the machines will be attached to the Guyana Industrial Training Centre where a similar programme is expected to start shortly.
Meanwhile, a driver/salesman course is to be launched soon and will be added to a roster that includes 60 different skills being offered under the National Training Programme for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE) administered by BIT.
GINA said the NTPYE programme falls under the purview of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security.
Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir told GINA on Tuesday that the driver/salesman course was being launched to meet the needs of the business community for this category of worker. It is expected to have a four to six-month duration during which participants will receive instruction in remedial Mathematics, English, Business and HIV/Health Education.
The minister said currently 500 youth are pursuing training at more than 200 institutions in seven of the ten administrative regions.
The minister also said BIT has had a number of successes. He said by the end of 2008 about 69 young adults had graduated and 48 others were being trained in Office Procedures which was being conducted in collaboration with the Friendship Oxygen Company Limited.
He said too that in July 665 persons were sent on attachments and from this batch 571 graduated and by year-end 1,010 persons were “placed in work environment”. Nadir said there was a significant decrease in job placements in several industrial establishments and companies and an appeal was made to the private sector to collaborate and provide employment for apprentices.
GINA said BIT and the NTPYE are initiatives President Bharrat Jagdeo launched to train 5000 out-of-school youths to a level where they could be employed in industry or become self employed.