THE Ministry of Education has inked a $114M contract with Caribbean Engineering and Management Consultants Inc. (CEMCI) in the first step towards the construction of two Practical Instruction Departments (PID) to improve Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Regions One and Seven.

MoE Permanent Secretary, Adele Clarke, signed on-behalf of the ministry, a press statement from the ministry said.

Clarke, according to the statement, noted that the PIDs will offer Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) levels one and two training in seven areas.
The areas offered are commercial food preparation, masonry/plumbing, electrical installation, furniture making/carpentry and joinery, light motor vehicle repairs, home economic/housekeeping and welding and fabrication.

“Clarke… is looking forward to a cordial and working relationship with the consultants who will ensure that any hiccups are ironed out quickly, so that the project can be completed within the timeline,” the ministry said.

Representing CEMCI was Managing Director, Ramon Latchmansingh, who said that the company is happy to be on board with the project.

He added that timelines are going to be strict because of the stringent requirements. He further noted the company’s experience in executing prior works in both regions.
Latchmansingh said that he looks forward to completing the job with a high professional standard, and to bring it within the budget the ministry has identified.
The contract provides for CEMCI to prepare the final designs and provide construction supervision services for the expansion and refurbishment of the facilities of the Bartica Secondary School Practical Instruction Department and the Northwest Secondary School Practical Instruction Department.

The contract also provides for CEMCI to prepare maintenance plans for the facilities.
When the designs are completed, it is hoped that construction work on those facilities can begin by September 2019, after the sourcing of a contractor.

The contract falls under the Guyana Skills Development and Employability Project (GSDEP), which is being financed by some US$12,252,000 in funding secured from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

GSDEP Project Coordinator, Theron Siebs, noted that the objective of this undertaking is to refurbish and retrofit the two departments with the aim of enhancing the quality of TVET in Guyana and to bridge the disparity between the coast and the hinterland.