A cross section of the graduates from the NTPYE initiative.

Two hundred and sixty eight young people yesterday graduated from the sixth National Training Project for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE) and were urged by Minister of Public Service Jennifer Westford to be adventurous in their pursuit of betterment.

“The more qualified you are, the more marketable you are,” Westford told graduates at the National Cultural Centre.

The Minister called on the youths to use the opportunity they have been given to make something out of themselves.

Yesterday’s graduation certified youths from Regions Three (West Demerara/ Essequibo Islands) and Four (Demerara/ Mahaica).

In Region Three, the completion rate was 87 percent, while in Region Four it was 57 percent.

The 268 individuals were engaged in 35 disciplines.

The NTPYE is a programme launched by President Bharrat Jagdeo in June 2005 and aims to provide Technical and Vocational Education and Training to out-of-school youths across the country.

The NTPYE initiative is under the purview of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) established to provide training opportunities for youths, equipping them with marketable skills in a variety of occupations.

The programme runs for six months and aims to achieve a number of objectives, namely:

* To provide opportunities for youths 16 years and over, who are not likely to succeed at entrance tests to the formal Technical and Vocational Education Training Institutions or the Apprenticeship Scheme;

* To ensure accessibility to training programmes throughout the various Regions of Guyana;

* To assist trainees in getting attached to places of employment to acquire skills in various occupations by which they can eventually gain employment after training; and

* To supplement on the job training with a period of classroom sessions to provide trainees with entrepreneurial training and Life Skills Education.

The programme consists of on the job training and exposure to life skills educational classes. 

BIT operates through a tripartite association that comprises representatives from employers and employees organisations, along with Government representation.

Partner businesses are asked to teach trainees on the job and provide for the evaluation of their performance.

Youths targeted are between the ages of 15 and 25. Most of these do not have the requisite CSEC qualifications to enter the job market or they may not have completed secondary education. 

A total of 1,750 individuals are expected from training in 2009 which is being undertaken at a cost of $86M.

To date, inclusive of the latest additions, approximately 700 persons have been trained.

According to Minister Westford, the programme’s benefits are twofold, in that some of the youths will be able to find jobs or become self-employed, while others, who may not be able to command a job, will have a basis from which they can move on to further training.

She charged the youths to see this step in their lives as only the beginning and to work towards further advancement.

The Public Service Minister expressed her gratitude to partner organisations that assisted with the initiative to provide the youths with knowledge and skills that will enable them to become self employed or gain access to further training.

Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir reiterated these sentiments and added that the graduation was testimony to the fact that the overwhelming majority of out of school youth want to make something more of their lives.

According to one of the collaborators associated with BIT, Mrs. Shirley Fernandes of the Soesdyke Coverden Culture Youth and Sport’s Craft School, the programme in an excellent one.

“We have our challenges; but the programme enhances the prospects of out of school youths as they are able to practice a skill to better their lives,” she said.