…to aid in education, oil and gas sector

By Zena Henry
THERE must be a greater push to promote the Secondary Competency Certificate Programme (SCCP) not only to support the existing education system, but to aid in the upcoming oil and gas sector, the development of local industries and the promotion of self-employment.
Ed Caesar, a veteran in the local education system and chairman of the ongoing Commission of Inquiry into the education system, believes that this programme could play a significant role in bridging the gap between competency and employment access.

During an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Caesar was adamant about the necessity of education support programmes, but related the poor promotion of same, using the almost one-decade running academic and technical skill set programme as an example.
The Ministry of Education has described the SCCP as a competency-based, modularised programme designed with a strong emphasis on what students can do in the workplace. It involves technical competencies and enhanced functional literacy and numeracy of students starting at Grade Nine. It is supposed to equip students with citizenship, life and vocational skills to support national development and expose them to career education, among several other benefits.

Caesar indicated however that while much concern was being placed on the performance of the education system, programmes such as SCCP that could play meaningful roles in the development of productive citizens are not given the due recognition and emphasis. Currently, there are numerous Guyanese who would not have completed their secondary and even primary levels of education. As a result, they are often unable to access high-paying jobs and sometimes feel incapable of attaining generally higher levels of development. Caesar posited that this trend could be changed with the proper structure, application of the SCCP in schools and marketing of the programme nation-wide.

The SCCP is supposed to be a support programme recognised locally; certifying the holder as having a certain level of competency in a certain area or areas. Without Caribbean-level certification, this document would allow Guyanese to access work locally within their fields. However, Caesar said this was not happening with the programme, and it remained widely unknown to the public and more specifically employers.
He pointed out that while there were technical institutes such as the Government Technical Institute (GTI) or Linden Tech that were recognised by employers, some of whom are in partnership and are very familiar with the institutes and their programmes, SCCP is unheard of, so even if students were to offer such a certificate to an employer, it was likely that the employer might not have heard of it.

After attaining SCCP, students are encouraged to complete their Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate to add to their academic and skills certification. Guyanese are being encouraged to become self-employed and self-sufficient. President David Granger has made that specific call for citizens to rise to the occasion and create their own economic opportunities for development. “If this (SCCP) programme is well structured and students well supervised, they could develop the capacity and ability to become self-employed,” Caesar opined. He noted immense national benefits with increased self- employment.

As regards the upcoming oil and gas sector, Caesar said, “If properly structured, SCCP could encompass elements of that too.” Recognising the increase in oil and gas training institutions, Caesar insinuated that it would be wise for the government to offer some level of enlightenment in this area within the local school system. Even in the development of industries, SCCP could be a major contributor. Where the ailing sugar industry is downsizing and new economic avenues have to be created to now accommodate thousands that will be out of work, industries are being touted.

These industries will need skilled and trained staffers that could be provided with the SCCP, Caesar agreed. During an interview with government media in February, SCCP Coordinator, Ritesh Tularam said that the programme was rolled out in 50 schools over a 10-year period. However, the government was looking at a phased implementation of the Caribbean Vocational Qualification or CVQ, which was successfully implemented into technical institutes, into 10 secondary schools commencing September. It was said that the SCCP would be streamlined within the CVQ format.