Another batch of students has graduated from the Board of Industrial Training’s National Training Project for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE), as youths continue to take the opportunity provided by government to elevate themselves and increase their marketability.
Ninety-eight youths who successfully completed the NTPYE training programme in Linden, Region 10, yesterday graduated at a ceremony at the Linden Constabulary Hall, under the theme “Reducing Youth Unemployment”. NTPYE was the vision of President Bharrat Jagdeo and was launched in 2005 as part of the administration’s policy to reduce the level of unemployment and better the living standards of citizens. Youths from 15 to 25, 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.
Project Coordinator, Coreen Connelly, in her project report, stated that the ceremony was held for those trainees who were placed in the programme during the latter half of 2009. These were drawn from Muritaro, Bootooba, Ituni, Malali, Kwakwani, and other areas in MacKenzie and Wismar.
Connelly noted that the region had 84 percent completion, with 80 females and 10 males, 27 of whom were under a special training project in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Apart from on-the-job training, the students were exposed to life skills education which covers basic Mathematics, English, Micro-Enterprise Training, Sexual Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS.
Minister of Labour, Manzoor Nadir, in his address, noted that the youths’ achievement is a way of making their parents and community proud and is also a means of providing for themselves and parents.
The minister stated that government is committed to training young people, especially those who did not have a chance to complete their secondary education. He added that the increasing commitment to empower youths is a priority, and with the collaboration of the UNDP, the commitment will continue throughout the country.
Minister Nadir stated that he very proud of the achievement of the Board of Industrial Training on its 100th anniversary, and the programmes that have expanded under it.
Last year, the BIT trained 375 single parents and is targeting about 500 more this year.
Principal of the Linden Technical Institute, and member of BIT, Michael Turner, stated that the training will enable individuals to perform better and gain employment.

He added that UNDP has helped with training, especially in the field of heavy- duty machinery operators and this has really benefited students, particularly those of the riverain areas. Most of them have opted to continue studying at the Linden Technical Institute.
Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP, Didier Trebucq, noted that he is happy to see the trainees graduating, and looks forward for continued partnership with government in training young people.
The graduates were encouraged to keep working hard and President of the Linden Chamber of Commerce, Basil Jaipaul, stated that with ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are possible.
Member of BIT, Dennis Jaikaran, encouraged the youths to be champions, with reference to President Jagdeo.

So far this year, a total of 691 NTPYE trainees have graduated: 185 from Regions One and Two, 132 from Region Three, 90 from Region Four, 102 from Region Five, 84 from Region Six, and now 98 from Region 10.