THE Board of Industrial Training (BIT) continues to provide vulnerable individuals with an opportunity to gain some form of qualification in technical studies. In this regard, last Wednesday saw over 300 persons in Region Four graduate following training in several areas.

The graduation ceremony, which was held at the Regency Hotel on Hadfield Street, here in Georgetown saw 16 officers of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) graduating as Heavy-Duty Equipment Operators, along with three other

batches in this skill area, while 31 persons graduated in block making, catering and cosmetology through collaboration with the GPF.
Through continuous operation of the Eccles Skills Training Centre, 71 persons gained qualification in the areas of catering and Information Technology, and 42 in Welding and Fabrication through the Guyana National Industrial Corporation (GNIC), along with 77 women in the areas of Information Technology, Sewing, Catering and Cosmetology through collaboration with the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute.
Thirteen (13) persons from the Deaf Association of Guyana were also trained and placed in employment at the Grand Coastal and Pegasus Hotels and Jailall’s Workshop, and another 10 in Region Three.
Speaking at the ceremony, BIT Chairman, Mr. Clinton Williams noted that Wednesday’s graduation was the ninth to date under the National Training Programme for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE) and Single Parents Programme for Region Four.

This programme was launched in 2005 by Former President Bharrat Jagdeo with the objective of providing competency based technical vocational education and training to fill the shortage of entry level skills for both the public and private sectors.
Williams noted that these programmes target vulnerable groups such as school drop-outs, youths from depressed communities and other disadvantaged youths, including those with disabilities.
In 2009 another programme which targeted single parents was launched to build capacity for them.
He added that in 2006 the programme began with 254 graduates and to date over 16,000 individuals graduated inclusive of the 1,000 under the Apprenticeship Scheme. Over 2,700 persons will graduate across the country under BIT in 2014.
Also delivering brief remarks at the ceremony was Minister of Labour, Dr. Nanda Gopaul who congratulated the students and noted that this year has seen the largest number of graduates under this programme throughout Guyana.
“For Guyana to develop, all of its people must play their role,” Dr Gopaul said, adding that many of the persons who have been trained by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) are now managers in various departments in the company.
“We are providing the opportunities for thousands of people …and the last five years have seen Guyana moving forward,” Dr. Gopaul noted.
Also commending the graduates was Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Anil Nandlall who said, “This can’t be the end of the road; it is only a stepping stone,” as he urged the graduands to aim higher.
He added that the People’s Progressive Party has been focusing on technical education since it was in power in the 1960s, by building skills schools such as the Guyana School of Agriculture (GSA) among others. Minister Nandlall added that this can be reflected in a letter written by Dr. Cheddi Jagan in the past. He also reminded that the University of Guyana will be launching online courses to allow those persons who cannot attend the institution to have a chance to qualify themselves.
He pointed out that another example of the efforts made by the party to ensure this opportunity is given to all Guyanese is the construction of several dormitories to house students who are travelling from far distances to elevate themselves.
Due to these efforts, urban schools are no longer the only top schools in the country, but students from various parts of the country are now excelling at examinations and dominating the top spots.

He also noted that through the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), individuals are now able to work in various parts of the Caribbean. He however, urged the graduands to stay in Guyana and work and develop their country.
The Minister also noted that there is great need for hydropower because it is important for the country to move away from primary production and commence manufacturing which requires a lot of power and can be very expensive to undertake. However, he added, that Guyana has over 100 waterfalls to provide a large amount of hydropower to complement this undertaking and provide cheap electricity.
A total of 633 persons were trained in Region Four in the areas of Engineering (194), Home Economics (188) and Information technology/Clerical (251) during this year. (GINA)