The Ministry of Education has identified three areas it plans to focus on this year as it undertakes to train a number of persons in the skills that would meet needs in the tourism sector.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release the areas are entrepreneurship, hospitality skills development and Information Communication Technology (ICT), with the latter already being implemented through the provision of computers, construction of IT labs and training teachers in ICT.
Stakeholders from within the education and tourism sectors met recently to discuss the possibilities of up-grading the Carnegie School of Home Economics into a hospitality institute. Also, Guyana, through the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) has contracted the Director of the Barbados Hospitality Training Institute, Bernice Critchlow-Earle to conduct a feasibility study on establishing an institute here to advance the development of skills for the tourism industry.
In his address, Minister of Education Shaik Baksh noted that the hospitality field is important and that the ministry plans to meet the needs of the private sector and labour market. He also noted that it aims to provide a variety of job opportunities for youth and is seeking to make available more relevant training. Baksh said the technical institutes have been asked to review their programmes and to craft new programmes with potential.
The minister also pointed out that the delivery of education quality assurance/accreditation is critical since persons will be able to pursue job opportunities outside of Guyana. “In this regard, if the Carnegie School of Home Economics is to be up-graded its programmes will have to be quality assured, in-service training realized and a link established with the University of Guyana since it offers a tourism programme,” he said.
According to GINA, Baksh has received a development plan submitted by Carnegie’s principal; however, he noted that no interventions will be made until after the consultation. Nevertheless, a new board was appointed comprising representatives from the private sector, Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), hotels and tour operators.
Permanent Secretary at the ministry, Pulandar Khandai noted that a hospitality institute can contribute to national development hence the need for well trained persons in the field. He explained that the consultation was tasked with reviewing what currently obtains in the hospitality sector and examining the feasibility of establishing a hospitality institute and the development of possible programmes to be introduced.
In addition, GTA Director Indranauth Haralsingh, on behalf of Tourism Minister, Manniram Prashad, noted that “Guyana has become a more popular destination due to efforts by the Ministry of Tourism, the GTA, private sector and other stakeholders and has been featured on televised programmes such as National Geographic Explorer, BBC and Animal Planet.” He opined that the establishment of a hospitality institute will greatly benefit the sector by providing prospective workers and facilitating capacity development for current workers thereby enhancing the quality in delivery of Guyana’s tourism products.
CDB-Education Specialist, Dr Idamay Denny said that the consultant was asked to determine the quality and adequacy of current training in Guyana, skill gaps, quality of training facilities and equipment, possible new programmes and to advise on Carnegie’s role. She said that some of the programmes that can be introduced to strengthen and upgrade the current offerings include culinary arts, hospitality studies, apprentice chef, taxi operation, housekeeping, reception and sale, bar operations and food and beverage service.
