Sixty-three Region 10 youth graduate from BIT training programme
Part of the graduating class
Part of the graduating class

SOME 63 persons from different communities in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) have graduated from training programmes offered by the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) and the Forestry Training Centre Incorporated. 

The Government has, over the years, been working to ensure that all Guyanese have opportunities to acquire skills being offered through BIT training programmes . The workforce is therefore empowered annually by skilled persons who have undergone BIT training.

Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony
Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony

The students who hailed from Kwakwani, Orealla/Siparuta, Rockstone, Linden, Caria Caria, 72 Miles and St. Cuthbert’s had commenced their studies in September 2014.
This is the second batch of students to complete the BIT programme. Eight of them participated in the forest inventory course, 22 in surveying and mapping, 11 in 3ID and 22 did the timber- grading course. The first batch of students were taken through their studies in 2013.
This year’s batch represents a three-fold increase over the number of persons trained in 2013 in the region under the programme. The programme consists of on-the-job training and exposure to lifeskills education classes. The youth who are targeted are between the ages of 15 and 25. Most of them do not have the requisite Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) qualifications to enter the job market, or may not have completed secondary education.
The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony during his address at the graduation ceremony, encouraged the students to pursue higher education. He noted that there are many educational opportunities in Guyana, but there are still some who do not access what is available.
Dr Anthony said he recognised that everyone learns sdifferently and in this regard attention is being placed on accrediting the technical and vocational programmes offered through various institutions. He recalled the reputation set by the students at the Port Mourant Training Centre internationally. “It is hoped that the good performance of those who pass through the BIT will set a similar trend,” he said.
The minister also encouraged the young men to continue their studies as it has been found that the females are doing better than the males while in school. “This is not a problem in Guyana alon, but globally.”
Some 2736 persons graduated in 2014 compared to approximately 3,000 persons in 2013 from the BIT programme, while more than 8,000 people have accessed training under the programme overall since its introduction in 2005. Guyana’s BIT programme was hailed by Mexico and Colombia in 2013 as a model for youth training and for reducing unemployment.
In 2014 the BIT embarked upon evening programmes and collaborated with the Guyana Training Centre in Port Mourant in fitting and machining, electrical installation, motor vehicle servicing and repairs, refrigeration, welding and fabrication and supervisory management. In Region 6,( East Berbice-Corentyne), the BIT extended its services to persons from the remote communities of Orealla and Siparuta. Twenty four persons have since graduated from these areas in heavy duty equipment operations and a second batch of 27 persons is currently being trained.

 

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