Technical and vocational training across the country continues to be enhanced by the collaboration between the oil companies operating offshore and the Ministry of Education’s, Council for Technical and Vocational Education Training (C-TVET).
The Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI) is a US$100 million, 10-year investment made by the Stabroek Block co-venturers – ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Hess Guyana Exploration Limited and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited. It is geared towards developing the local workforce, building human capacity, enhancing education, and improving healthcare, all aimed at promoting sustainable economic diversification in Guyana.
A March 15 release from GGI stated that in recognition of this partnership, a ceremony was hosted to celebrate the GGI -TVET programme, which was established to enhance the quality and standard of technical education across Guyana, while creating an enabling environment that fosters a safety culture. It explained that Phase I, which commenced in 2019 at the Linden and New Amsterdam Technical Institutes, included infrastructure upgrades, renovations and upgrades to the electrical and welding workshops. Further, curriculum packages were also developed in alignment with the requirements from the Caribbean Association of National Training Authorities (CANTA), and National Centre for Construction Education and Research (NCCER), along with the roll-out of a Basic Industrial Safety Training (BIST) Programme – across all TVET locations.
According to the release, the project has been extended to include the Leonora and Mahaicony Technical and Vocational Training Centres and is enhancing the Electrical and Welding Programmes while introducing safety programmes and professional development for instructors and students. Additionally, the institutes will benefit from upgrades to existing infrastructure and the provision of new equipment and training materials.
Meanwhile, President of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Alistair Routledge, highlighted the importance of investing in human resources for future development, and reiterated TVET’s motto “skill is wealth”. He noted that projects of this nature are improving the opportunities for people in Guyana by helping them to become skilled professionals, thereby improving their earnings and quality of life.
“We are delighted that projects like these are raising the standards of institutions and bringing them up to the international standards because that’s what will be required to be internationally competitive,” Routledge said.
The ExxonMobil executive assured of his company’s commitment towards the project and noted that GGI is delighted to see that its investments are not only making a difference but also that its collaborations are driving prosperity for a sustainable future.
Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, who also addressed the attendees, advocated that technical education and vocational training must be made as prominent as academic learning. He emphasised that “long-term projects must revolutionize learning and education in the country, ensuring that children have the aptitude to be technical, giving them the same counsel and guidance and facilities.”
And Deputy Chief Education Officer – Technical, and representative of the Ministry of Education, Dr Ritesh Tularam, acknowledged GGI’s long-term commitment to capacity building to propel sustainable development in Guyana, and underscored the importance of the GGI, MoE, and C-TVET partnership and its benefits to the education sector, particularly the TVET.
He urged both students and instructors to make full use of the facilities provided, while expressing that technical vocational programmes of this nature are instrumental in enhancing the standards of technical education and training in Guyana.
Jada Daniels, a student of the Linden Technical Institute, in her testimonial, applauded the initiative. “It’s not merely about learning skills but immersing ourselves in a professional environment where excellence is the standard.”
