A new batch of Sterling Products Ltd (SPL) workers on Thursday last graduated from its literacy programme.
A release from the company yesterday said that the simple graduation ceremony was held in the company’s boardroom and attended by various company executives, officials from the Ministry of Education and the Clerical Commercial Workers’ Union (CCWU).
Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Ramsay Ali during his address encouraged the graduates to pursue their studies. “We have success stories in terms of how some employees would have moved from the basic training to University level, and that is something we are very proud of…you are finished now, so at least you will have a basic knowledge of Math, English, writing etc. I want to encourage you, don’t let’s stop here,” he said, according to the release.
Ali said that over a number of years, the company noticed a gap between the qualifications of some employees and job requirements; hence the initiative was taken to start the programme.
The CEO said that SPL will provide support to those desirous of studying further. “We have one person who went through the system and went on to University…we supported him right through. So much so, he has just applied for a job as a senior person in the company and we are considering him.”
Ann Anderson of CCWU, the release said, stressed the importance of a company willing to invest in education for its employees. Assistant Chief Education Officer, Leslyn Charles was pleased to see that the graduates of the programme were men, the release said. Mark Forde, one of the six graduates, expressed a great desire to continue his studies, the release said. He said being a part of Sterling’s Literacy Programme has positively impacted his life. “It has really motivated me to become a better person in life because I never got the opportunity to get an education,” he stated.
Colyn Sam posited that the literacy programme has given him with what he was robbed of as a child growing up in a single parent home.
