The Leonora Technical and Vocational Institute has graduated the first batch of students to have completed the one-year training programme which started last January.
One hundred and forty students completed the programme at the Region Three facility, a report from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said.
Chief Education Officer (Secondary) Melcita Bovell, in her address at the graduation ceremony held at the centre, said the ministry is committed to ensuring that every child can access education opportunities.
“If we have to develop Guyana then we have to equip our young people with the skills and training that are needed to literally lead and take over our country… these young people are the leaders and builders of this country,” she said.
Bovell pointed out that the education sector is expanding and the ministry continues to raise the bar and demand that every officer within the ministry keeps up.
“We know that sometimes we do not give them the tools in order for them to raise the bar but we know that we have a committed work force, we know that we have persons who understand why they were placed there,” she said.
The centre was commissioned in 2011 and officially started its programme last January with 253 students enrolled in the fulltime and part-time classes. “Forty-five percent discontinued their courses because of unforeseen circumstances. Of the remaining students, 96 of them were exposed to work attachments in the private and public sectors,” GINA said.
The students pursued training in agro-mechanics, data operations, office administration, electrical installation, carpentry, metal work, engineering, motor vehicle repairs and welding. Bovell also extended an invitation to the students who were forced to leave the institution before completing their programme to return to do so.
Principal at the institute Mrs Chung Hinds expressed gratitude to the teachers, parents and ministry for their support, and commended the students for completing the programme. She urged them to take full advantage of the opportunity given to them to elevate themselves.
