FOLLOWING their graduation from the Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC), 163 individuals are now deemed qualified with a variety of technical skills.

The graduation ceremony, which was held on Wednesday at the National Cultural Centre, saw the graduates receive certification in Data Operations, Electrical Installation, Furniture-Making, Metalwork Engineering, Motor Vehicle Repairs, Plumbing, Welding and Fabrication, and Masonry.

Joseph Hamilton, Minister of Labour, delivered the feature address, praising the graduates’ achievements and emphasising the importance of respecting skilled crafts alongside executive professions.

“If we are serious about the development of this country, we must undergo a paradigm shift in education. We need to discuss about… what exactly is learning? What precisely is education? Those are the difficult questions we must address. We can’t keep running away from them,” he said emphatically.

The minister also encouraged them not to cease their training at this point, but to strive for further advancement beyond the fundamental level of their training.

“You are as valuable as anyone else. Understand that. Don’t let anyone put you down. Don’t let someone tell you that just because they are more literate than you, they are more valuable. Confidence is what propels you through this world to achievement. You have to believe in yourself when no one else does,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Education Officer (DCEO) with responsibility for Technical Education, Dr Ritesh Tularam, said the graduates have a strategic role. He said that they possess the requisite skills, knowledge, and attitudes to make a tangible contribution to Guyana’s emerging socio-economic landscape.

“The opportunities are numerous before us; maximise them. Navigate your pathways and create new possibilities, because you are now strategically positioned to make that life-changing contribution to your beautiful country – Guyana,” Dr Tularam noted.

He also implored the graduates to maximise other opportunities, including the programmes which are available through the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) programme.
Since its establishment, the GITC has continued to deliver training opportunities for young men and women by empowering them to realise their potential, while developing skills that will enhance their contributions to the public and private sectors.

The 163 GITC graduates join the 4,444 individuals who graduated from the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) earlier this year. This demonstrates the Ministry of Labour’s and the government’s commitment to ensure that persons, particularly youths, have both skills and employability.