THE Board of Industrial Training (BIT) and the National Institute for Technical and Vocational Training (INFOTEP) from the Dominican Republic have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to overhaul Guyana’s technical and vocational training systems.
This partnership aims to introduce modernised curricula, innovative training methods, and comprehensive certification processes to improve the nation’s workforce skills.

A high-level delegation from the Dominican Republic, led by INFOTEP Director, Rafeal E. Santos Badia, visited Guyana to formalise this collaboration. The delegation included Vice Minister of Presidency Jose R. Holguin Brito, Deputy General Director of INFOTEP, Maria Moria, and the Dominican Republic’s Ambassador to Guyana, Ernesto Torres-Pereyra, among other senior INFOTEP officials.

The visiting team engaged in discussions with key Guyanese officials, including Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton and BIT CEO/Secretary, Richard Maughn. The talks focused on establishing cooperative principles to enhance skills delivery and optimise technical and vocational education standards in Guyana.

Following these discussions, the delegation met with the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (C-TVET) under the Ministry of Education. That meeting provided insights into the specific skills demands of Guyana’s workforce, further informing the collaborative efforts between BIT and INFOTEP.

The visit culminated in a formal MoU signing ceremony at the Board of Industrial Training Skills Development and Certification Centre in Unity Mahaica.

INFOTEP, established in 1980, plays a crucial role in regulating and organising the national technical professional training system in the Dominican Republic.

The institute’s objective is to develop human resources and increase productivity across all economic sectors by leveraging state, worker, and employer efforts.

The collaboration with BIT aims to implement an integrated project that includes modernised curriculum development, advanced training methods, technology integration, trainer development, and robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

This initiative is poised to significantly enhance vocational education in Guyana, preparing the workforce for modern challenges and contributing to the nation’s economic growth.