THE Board of Industrial Training (BIT) is continuing to empower Guyanese through programmes administered and delivered through its National Training Project for Youth Empowerment ((NTPYE) and Single Parents’ programme.

One hundred and ninety-six persons from Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) on Thursday graduated after completing training administered by BIT at a ceremony held at Hurricane Harbour. A total of 144 persons graduated under the NTPYE, while 52 women graduated from the single parents’ programme.
Among the NTPYE graduates were 21 engineers, and 10 welders, while 38 persons received certificates after completing training in health services and 42 in the area of Home Economics.
Permanent Secretary within the Public Service Ministry, Hydar Ally, said BIT must be applauded for its key responsibility of facilitating fundamental training in the area of technical and vocational proficiency. “Not many countries in the world are offering these kinds of opportunities, and I think the government and the board must be commended for this initiative,” the permanent secretary added.

The value of the programme cannot be overstated, considering its mandate of empowering young men, women and single parents by creating opportunities through technical and vocational training. Ally noted that government’s drive to ensure all Guyanese are Information and Communication Technology inclined, forms part of the administration’s vision of enhancing the lives of Guyanese.
Despite the tremendous success of the programme since its beginning in 2005, the subject of gender imbalance remains an issue since almost 100% of the participants of the single parents’ programme are women. This however, is testimony to the success of the programme’s mandate of empowering women and encouraging entrepreneurship.
Meanwhile, Region 5 Chairman Bindrabhan Bisnauth commended the graduands, while citing the tremendous economic benefits of the initiative. He also highlighted the critical responsibility of the initiative in reducing unemployment, while at the same time contributing to national development.
BIT, since its inception, has trained 8,869 in over 50 technical and vocational skill areas.
Recently, graduation exercises were also held at Leonora, Bartica, Linden and Essequibo.

(GINA)