While outlining some of the areas which Guyanese can work collectively to secure a prosperous future, during the Cabinet outreach session Saturday at the Guyana International Conference Centre, President Bharrat Jagdeo called for a renewed interest in entrepreneurial skills.

“We have to find a way to alter our curriculum. This is something that we need to work with the private sector and others in doing. In the school’s curriculum we have to find a way of instilling entrepreneurial behaviour,” President Jagdeo said.

The President said such a renewed interest will go a long way in promoting a strong “indigenous private sector,” but believes that introducing the skill to the youth as he or she grows old will be a mistake.

He also believes that it is never too late to train early school leavers and even pensioners, with the ultimate goal being a stronger work force.

“If a lot of these sectors take off, as I anticipate them to do, we will have problems with labour in our country; so the task for the future has to be that we ensure that every able-bodied and even those who are physically challenged are given a skill to participate in this new economy,” President Jagdeo said.

The achievement of this goal, the President said, calls for a modern education delivery system that determines it indeed is doing an effective job at preparing the population for the twenty first century.

Skills training continues to be a priority area of the government and through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s flagship programme, the Youth Entrepreneurial Skills Training (YEST), several youths who for various reasons neglected their primary and secondary education are offered a second chance.

The programme runs for 10 months residentially at the Kuru Kuru training centre on the Linden Highway, and non-residentially at the Sophia Training Centre, equipping the youths with skills in business studies, carpentry, electrical installation, joinery, masonry, motor mechanics, plumbing and sheet metal, welding and fabrication.

Several youths who pass through the programme have become employable. Many students from the hinterland have returned to their communities as entrepreneurial ambassadors.

Under the Ministry of Labour, youths and single parents are provided with life skills education and skills training through the National Training Programme for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE).

The single parent aspect of the programme was introduced after the database of single parents was created by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security to provide assistance to single parents who are unable to provide for their children.

NTPYE is funded by the Government and included a $25M allocation for single parents this year. (GINA)