The Board of Industrial Training (BIT) of the Ministry of Labour on December 14 held a graduation ceremony at the New Amsterdam Town Hall for 187 persons who successfully completed training in over 21 areas under the National Training Project for the Youth Empowerment (NTPYE).
The training was conducted at 28 locations in Berbice, a release from the Government Information Agency said.
The trainees were between the ages of 16 and 20 for all the courses except for the heavy duty operator programme which is offered to the 18-35 years age range. Some of the disciplines included Mechanics, Joinery, Auto Electrical, and Auto Body Repairs. For the first time the Heavy Duty Equipment Operator Programme was offered in the New Amsterdam area with the training being conducted at the New Amsterdam Technical Institute.
Thirty-nine graduated from this course. Fifty operators were trained previously in Region Six at the Upper Corentyne Industrial Centre.
The BIT also collaborated with the Ministry of Health to train persons who had the prerequisites, at the Health Centres and Hospitals.
The trainees were exposed to life skills training in areas such as Basic Mathematics, English, Micro Enterprise development, Sexual and Reproductive Health/ Gender Based Violence.
Minister of Labour Dr. Nanda Gopaul congratulated the students for their dedication in completing the programme since he said they can now be fully employed.
