With only nine males among the 32 apprentices in the latest Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited Youth Link Apprenticeship Programme, Chief Education Officer Olato Sam yesterday said he hoped it did not point to a deeper issue that would warrant an investigation.
Sam said he was disturbed at the few number of boys that will benefit from the programme, now in its seventh year, when he spoke
at its launching yesterday at the Georgetown Club on Camp Street.
He told the apprentices that he hopes they seize the opportunity before them because they are in an envious position.
Sam also said despite having an abundance of talent, the attitude of young people is what’s keeping them back. He went on to say that cell phones are an issue for a lot of young employees working in customer care. One cannot be engaged in frivolous activities when working in customer service, he said.
“Punctuality is also an issue,” he added, before charging the young apprentices to discard negative attitudes and apply themselves to their work because of the rare opportunity granted to them.
Sam also commended Republic Bank, which he said is one of the corporate leaders when it comes to giving back to society. He said the initiative it has taken to develop young minds for the working world will cultivate a sense of commitment and responsibility that will benefit the young apprentices in the long run. He also called on other corporations to give back to the society.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of Republic Bank John Alves said he saw the apprenticeship programme as an opportunity to positively impact the personal and professional lives of participants.
Those involved in the programme will undergo training over a seven-month period that will test their theoretical and practical skills in banking. Alves said successful participants in the programme will be awarded the National Vocational Qualification Certificate as certified bank clerks issued by the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training.
He said that the trainees will also be involved in community service and noted that it is important to give back to the less fortunate, which will foster empathy and social awareness.
Like Sam, Alves also said that he hopes the apprentices makes the most of this opportunity. He added that 156 persons have benefited from the programme, which he noted has improved since its introduction in 2008.
