The Ministry of Education says the implementation of the Secondary Competency Certificate Programme (SCCP) has resulted in the curbing of the drop-out rate in the early grades of secondary school.
According to a press release Minister of Education Shaik Baksh explained to graduates at the Guyana Industrial Training Centre’s 44th graduation exercise that the number of school drop-outs this year has been fewer compared to the previous year. He said that a number of drop-outs have also returned to school to do the SCCP with the hope of obtaining a certificate that will make them eligible for first level entry jobs.
Baksh said there will be changes in the delivery of technical and vocational education and a number of learning packages will be issued to students to promote open and distance learning.
The changes are expected to be implemented next year as the ministry aims to meet the varying and individual needs of learners in order to prepare them for the world of work.
According to the release the programme is being offered at 35 secondary schools at the Grade Nine level and at several practical instructional centres in Georgetown.
This is in keeping with plans to develop student’s technical competencies and mastery of literacy and numeracy skills; sound citizenship and vocational skills to support national development; an exposure to modularised and vocational career education with emphasis on supervised work experience, work attachments and/or work related projects; good occupational, environmental health and safety practices in schools; and problem solving and creative thinking skills through project work.
The ministry has also revised the TVET curriculum to make it more relevant to the world of work. Baksh pointed out that money has been made available through a US$9.6M Canadian Development Bank funded project to facilitate the construction of technical and vocational institutions at Leonora in Region Three and Mahaicony, Region Five. The agreement was signed in March.
