AS part of the efforts to ensure more young people take advantage of the opportunities in the oil and gas sector, Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat said that an education programme will be launched in secondary schools to improve awareness and understanding of the industry.
He made these remarks during Friday’s youth forum at the Guyana Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo, which was held at the Marriott Hotel, Georgetown. The minister at the time was responding to a young person asking how one can establish a career in the oil and gas sector.
The Natural Resources Ministry will collaborate with Minister of Education Sonia Parag and Minister of the Public Service, Government Efficiency, and Implementation Zulfikar Ally to roll out the nationwide outreach programme.
Under the initiative, Minister Bharrat, alongside other government ministers, will engage fourth and fifth form secondary school students, outlining opportunities within the oil and gas industry and the broader natural resources sector.
“…We need to do more education with regard to oil and gas. We need to speak to young people more about the opportunities in the oil and gas sector,” Minister Bharrat said.
He also referenced the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Youths in Natural Resources Apprenticeship Programme as an example.
This annual initiative aims to expose youth to the diverse career pathways available within the natural resources sectors, including mining, forestry and oil and gas. Through a series of hands-on activities, field visits and mentorship opportunities, participants will gain a deeper understanding of Guyana’s natural wealth and the operations that support its development.
The programme is designed to foster a greater appreciation of the environment and the extractive industry, with guidance provided by experienced instructors and professionals from across the sector.
The ministry partners with a wide range of agencies to deliver a rich and diverse training experience. These include the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC); the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC); the Guyana Gold Board; Iwokrama; ExxonMobil Guyana; Guyana Gold Fields; the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI) and the University of Guyana’s Department of Science and Technology and the Institute of Applied Science and Technology.
Guyana’s oil and gas industry has expanded rapidly since its first production, and this has resulted in thousands of jobs being created. The government has repeatedly emphasised the need to build local capacity so that more Guyanese can participate meaningfully in the sector.
