-185 more students graduate
Another batch of youths graduated Saturday from the National Training Project for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE)/Board of Industrial Training programme (BIT), as efforts to ensure that unemployed and underprivileged youths are better equipped with life skills. The graduation exercise for 185 youths who began training during the latter half of 2009 was held at the Essequibo Technical Institute, Region Two.
The activity, under the theme “Reducing youth unemployment” is an initiative of President Bharrat Jagdeo. Since the commencement of the programme in 2005, youths from the 10 administrative regions have benefited from training and through the Ministry of Labour’s Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency, they have acquired jobs.

Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir said at the graduation that BIT will continue to reach out to young people, giving them an opportunity to be employed.
“We are all people and we deserve an opportunity to start again. Every person has a great ability to do positive things once we put our minds to it, and that is why Government is investing and will continue to invest in the programme,”
Eighty-two percent of the youths completed the six-month programme and according to the Labour Minister, they should not only apply their skills in the area learnt, but rather adopt other trends.
He noted that in a few years’ time Region Two will be further developed, creating more job opportunities.

“Through this agency, persons are offered a 70 percent opportunity of finding a decent paying job,” Minister Nadir said.
The students drawn from Regions One and Two concluded the intensive six-month training. They are from areas such including Moruca, Mashabo, Leguan, Wakenaam ,and Pomeroon River including Kabakaburi, St. Monica, and Abrams creek.
NTPYE Project Coordinator Coreen Connelly, while giving a project report stated, that the students were not only given on-the-job training, but were also exposed to life-skills education such as basic Mathematics, English, Micro-Enterprise Training, Sexual Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS training.

She noted that of the 185 graduates there was an average completion rate of 88 percent in over 28 different occupations. These were:-
* Region One-Moruca, 25 started, with 22 graduating(six males and 16 females)
* Region Two-Pomeroon River, 27 began, with 24 graduating (six males and 18 females). In the Essequibo Coast 109 started, 96 of whom graduated, (38 males and 58 females)
* Region Three, Leguan – 20 persons started, with 16 graduating (six males and 10 females) while in Wakenaam 29 persons began, with 27 graduating (five males while 22 females)
BIT’s Chief Executive Officer Alana Brassington stated that this was a significant day for the graduates, noting that the training not only exposes them to the world of work, but will also give them a chance to further their education.

She noted that the board has been working diligently since its inception to increase the number of trainees every year. Brassington stressed that the youths are now in a position to positively influence their colleagues, and she urged parents in attendance to always support and encourage their children, since this is not the end, but the beginning of a bright future.
The programme targets youths ranging from 15-25 years, for training in areas such as hospitality, craft, mechanics, administration, plumbing, and pharmacy and health care.
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. It was created to further provide assistance to single parents who are unable to provide for their children due to various circumstances. (GINA)