The Ministry of Education says there is need for more public awareness concerning technical and vocational education as it is the public’s view that these fields are for persons not academically inclined but who are good with their hands.
Government Technical Institute (GTI) Principal Patrick Chinedu Onwuzirike noted that a Caricom survey indicated that technical education and training is looked at as an education where only the drop-outs from secondary school can attend. He also said that when students enrol at GTI, particularly those undertaking the diploma programmes, they are shocked that they must have a good foundation in Mathematics, English, Science and any other technical subjects, a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release said.
To further advance the development of TVET the ministry has facilitated the construction of two new technical institutes in regions three and five which will be completed this year. Also, the Secondary Competency Certificate Programme will be expanded to include 14 more schools. There are currently 3300 students engaged in the programme and to date 500 have graduated.
In an effort to boost this area of learning, a supplementary budgetary allocation of $129M was approved and is being used to retool and re-equip practical instruction centres. Three technical institutes are also benefiting from this measure. Steps were also taken to realize the implementation of the Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQ) following the achievement of certain conditions and procedures for the issuing of the CVQ certificate. The issuing of this certificate allows the holder to obtain a job within the region, particularly in territories where the certificate is accepted.
Director of the TVET Council, Sydney Walters said no country can exist without a viable TVET programme that can support the needs for skilled workers; hence there must be a reservoir of skilled workers that are capable of performing at a very high level in industries.
According to GINA the Guyana Industrial Training Centre also offers a number of programmes.
