– expositions celebrate skills, inspire future to transform lives

THE Government plans to establish a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centre in every region of Guyana by the end of 2026, as it moves to expand access to skills training and better prepare young people for employment and entrepreneurship.
Minister of Education, Sonia Parag, made the announcement on Tuesday during the opening of the TVET Fair and Exposition 2026 at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

“The government has made a bold commitment that every region of Guyana will have a TVET centre by the end of 2026,” Parag said.
She said the expansion is intended to bring technical and vocational training closer to communities through partnerships involving institutions such as the Carnegie School of Home Economics and Practical Instruction Centres.
Parag said the initiative forms part of a broader effort to ensure that Guyanese, particularly young people, have access to training that can lead to employment, entrepreneurship and increased economic opportunities.
She also sought to challenge the long-standing perception that technical education is less valuable than traditional academic qualifications.
“What you are doing to develop your skill in a particular area is no less than earning an academic qualification,” the minister said.
Parag acknowledged that TVET was once viewed largely as an alternative for students who did not pursue conventional academic pathways.
She said that perception had placed limitations on young people, diminished the value of skilled work and overlooked the contribution of technical professionals to national development.
“No modern country can be built by theory alone. Nations are built by people who can turn knowledge into action, ideas into products, and raw materials into things of value,” she said.
The minister said the quality and diversity of projects displayed at the exposition reflected the growing scope of technical education in Guyana. She pointed to the increased presence of technology-related exhibits, including drones, as an indication of the changing face of TVET.
According to Parag, nearly half of the students who sat the 2026 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations pursued at least one TVET subject.

She also reported an 8.9 per cent increase in the number of students expected to receive Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQs) this year, with 2,813 candidates projected to gain qualifications in areas including agro- and food- processing, aquaculture, crop production, electrical engineering, construction, welding, motor vehicle repair, garment making and commercial food preparation.
The expansion of TVET is being guided by Guyana’s TVET Policy 2025–2035, a 10-year framework aimed at strengthening technical and vocational education and positioning it as a foundation for economic growth, social inclusion and individual empowerment.
The policy also seeks to ensure that training remains aligned with sectors identified as important to Guyana’s development, including construction, energy, climate-resilient agriculture, hospitality, manufacturing and digital technology.
Deputy Chief Education Officer, Technical, Dr Ritesh Tularam, said TVET represents the point at which education moves from theory to practice, knowledge to skills and learning to earning.
“Education must not remain confined within the four walls of a classroom, the laboratory or workshop,” Tularam said, adding that the value of education is reflected in the opportunities it creates, the communities it strengthens and its contribution to national development.
Assistant Chief Education Officer, Technical, Marcia Paddy-Andrews, said the exposition was more than an opportunity to display products and skills, describing it as a demonstration of what could be achieved when education, skills development and industry come together.
She also highlighted the participation of girls in TVET, noting that technical training is creating opportunities for young women to pursue careers across a wider range of fields.
The third annual TVET Fair and Exposition featured approximately 58 booths showcasing skills, products and projects developed through technical and vocational programmes.
Held as part of Education Month activities, the exposition was organised under the theme “From Classroom to Career: TVET in Action”, with the aim of highlighting the role of technical and vocational education in helping students transition from school into the world of work.
The event brought together students, teachers, education officials and other stakeholders to showcase technical competence, creativity and skills being developed across Guyana.