MINISTRY of Education and Council for Technical Vocational Education and Training (CTVET), in collaboration with the CARICOM Education for Employment (C-EFE) hosted a forum for industry leaders and educators to examine Guyana industry linkages, with specific focus on “Workforce Development: The Critical Importance of TVET in Secondary Schools”. 

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, in her feature address, said that the forum could not have come at a better time, as the ministry is currently witnessing the highest number of students ever to be enrolled in TVET institutions across Guyana.

Early development of TVET education in secondary schools sows the seeds of interest in areas of TVET at an early age—Minister Manickchand

“The Ministry has commenced laying the solid foundation for the delivery of a higher quality TVET education to students, with the establishment of Secondary Competency Certificate Programmes in Secondary Schools across the country, as

well as, Competency Based Education and Training (CBET) offered in all TVET institutions in Guyana,” the Minister added. She said that with these measures in place and in the near future, TVET education in Guyana is poised to receive certification from the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC), in the form of the Caribbean Vocation Qualification (CVQ).
The Government, through the Ministry of Education, within the last 10 years, has done considerable work to bring TVET education to its current state. Minister Manickchand noted a number of accomplishments, among them are: The establishment of the Council for TVET by an Act of Parliament in 2004. This council is currently staffed and operational; The formulation of a National Policy for TVET under the theme ‘TVET: Key for the Development of a Modern & Competitive Workforce; Completion of the first national Strategic plan for TVET: This plan is deemed the first of its kind in the Caribbean and forms a component of the Ministry of Education 2013-2018 Strategic Plan; The re-tooling and equipping of existing TVET Institutions has been given priority attention since 2006 to ensure that the Institutions meet the requirements of the CVQ; Development and implementation of programmes for training and development of TVET staff (Professional Staff Training and Development.
There has also been continued expansion of TVET across Guyana, with the construction of TVET Centres in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The ministry also plans to build a TVET Centre in Region 9.
The ministry’s focus on workplace development speaks to its commitment to Guyana’s human development. Minister Manickchand said, “A country with skilled human capital is an economy that shows significant growth potential.” She added that TVET is one of the most effective means by which Guyana can develop the potential of its citizens’ and stated that “TVET institutions and the formal education system cannot achieve education and training for the sustainable development of human capital on their own. There must be links and partnerships with industry.”
Minister Manickchand concluded her address by stating that the early development of TVET education in secondary schools sows the seeds of interest in areas of TVET at an early age, and with the advent of the CVQ, Guyana can be assured that more of its young people will be better equipped for the world of work.
In Guyana, C-EFE works with CTVET, Linden Technical Institute (LTI) and Guyana Technical Institute (GTI) to strengthen the delivery of skills development programmes. LTI, in partnership with their Canadian partner College of the North Atlantic, is developing a heavy-duty equipment mechanics programme. GTI is renewing an automotive electronics programme with its Canadian partner, Durham College. C-EFE works with LTI and GTI to create demand-driven skills training programmes that are linked to local industry needs.
The C-EFE is a $20M programme sponsored by Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD), and implemented by Colleges and Institutes in Canada (CICan).