TVET education not an alternative

―educators hear during TVET workshop today

DPI, Guyana, Thursday, February 6, 2020

Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Education, Alfred King says pursuing a Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) course should not be optional since the skill can be used to generate wealth.

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Alfred King, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education

King was at the time addressing several education officers and TVET heads, assembled at the Umana Yana for a one-day TVET workshop on Thursday. He emphasised that the training should not be thought of, as an alternative to mainstream education.

Describing the forum as one of the most significant interventions in TVET’s delivery, King noted that this path has proven to provide life-changing opportunities and experiences for scores of individuals.

“With the definition of education itself – that which will allow anyone of us to live, explore and experience a quality life, to be able to develop skills that will take us into the world of work, to generate and earn in a way to develop communities and society and enhance national development – you will understand that English or Mathematics alone can’t do that,” he reiterated.

King told the educators that their delivery of TVET must be in sync with the masterplan the education ministry is developing and noted that the comprehensive plan has already been judged as one of the most progressive instruments of its kind within the Caribbean.

“We are at the beginning of a cycle where we are reviewing our budgetary programmes for the year, which of course deals with not only our programme delivery and intentions but also resourcing those intentions. The ministry is at a strategic position as it relates to reviewing and developing. As we speak today, there is a doctor in the country who has been resourced by UNICEF to guide the ministry’s delivery of education for the next five years.”

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Participants at today’s TVET workshop

Additionally, King urged those gathered to adopt an attitude of progressive thinking to introduce a change in the landscape – to meet the needs of regional and international best practices and standards.

“We must be thinking progressively of how we prepare those young minds to make a meaningful contribution to national development. Of course, we cannot be doing that by guessing,” PS King added.

He also noted that the positive steps taken towards technical and vocational education by the ministry, suggests that much more attention is given to TVET, its importance and relevance in Guyana.

Meanwhile, today’s workshop was organized to ensure the instructors are appraised of the current and future trend of TVET. It also ensures that plans of actions are devised to guarantee that the expectations of TVET are met.

Also present at the occasion was Chairman for the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), Clinton Williams and Director of the Council of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Floyd Scott.

TVET education provides the opportunity for change and development in technology, engineering and innovative thinking.

 

 

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