$54M allocated for financial literacy, job training for youth -Minister Ramson Jr.

─over 1,000 youths set to benefit

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport plans to invest $54million of its $2.7 billion budget allocation on several areas including financial literacy and employment readiness training for youth.

The government views this training as critical to equip youths with the knowledge and skills necessary to become productive adults.  

Minister, the Hon. Charles Ramson Jr., defended the allocation in the National Assembly yesterday, saying COVID-19 was presenting challenges and opportunities across the board.

“It is the same challenges these departments are facing. I think in many ways there are many opportunities which exist to get where we can streamline the training being provided so that it is standardised, professionalised, that there is no limitation on their production or delivery so that the same kind of quality is given to all,” Minister Ramson Jr. said.

The government plans to reopen the economy and provide training virtually for now, through the Department of Youth.

“We need to continue to have training and education programme[s] delivered to our young people… [We will] do it first in the virtual environment and then ensure to provide a safe environment as possible in the physical sense,” the Minister said.

This initiative will be implemented in keeping with the COVID-19 protocols. Referring to how the National Assembly is currently being held as an example, Minister Ramson Jr. said the Ministry will seek to do the same, though a complete assessment will first be done before training is conducted in a facility.  The COVID-19 pandemic does not mean that we have to fold our hands and not do our work,” he added.

Over 1,000 youths will benefit from the training in areas such as financial literacy and small business, night school 362, music, renewable energy, robotics, micro-computer and digital education, cognitive behaviour, peer education and edutainment, monitoring, problem-solving and life skills, job readiness, and parenting.  

Six units fall within the purview of the Department of Youth: Administration-Youth Empowerment Unit, President’s Youth Award: Republic of Guyana (PYARG), Kuru-Kuru Training Centre (KKTC), Vryman’s Erven Training Centre and the Sophia Training Centre (STC).