Dear Editor,
While working on a development project in Jamaica, the topic of vocational skills training in high schools (and for “vulnerable youths,” including school dropouts) often surfaced. A colleague once shared an observation that resonates deeply: “Very poor people get livelihoods, poor people get skills training, and the middle class get education and careers.” It’s a perspective worth considering as discussions around Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in high schools continue.
He often took the discussion a step further, posing a simple yet powerful question: “How many of us in this room—practitioners and policymakers—would encourage our children to pursue TVET subjects?” The silence in response was telling. This, too, maybe something policymakers in Guyana should reflect on as they shape the future of education and skills training.
Lastly, I would encourage policymakers to remember the ancient Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) philosophy: The decisions we make today should result in a sustainable world seven generations into the future. This philosophy is a timeless reminder that the policies we create now must pave the way for a balanced (not only focused on work and the market), inclusive, and sustainable future. A comprehensive quality high school education, including civic education, is essential to a sustainable future.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address supplied)
