AS the government continues to push for the advancement of technical and vocational education training across the country, the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) presented certificates in Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) to 96 teachers, who completed the programme, at its Turkeyen Campus on Monday.
The training was the first of its kind at the college and in Guyana, making this the inaugural closing ceremony for the programme. It also reflected the ministry and by extension the government’s willingness to continue to support teachers in their professional and personal skills-training endeavours.
At the same time, the implementation of such a programme demonstrates that the CPCE can continue to evolve, explore new opportunities and respond to the changing needs of our society.
Delivering her feature address, Minister of Education Sonia Parag said that technical and vocational education training (TVET) has been a work in progress since the 1970s in Guyana.
TVET training commenced at multilateral schools across Guyana; however, it was only in recent years that it became more mainstream.
The minister said that today, for such a programme to be facilitated at the CPCE, and for Guyana to be the one leading in the Caribbean in that regard, we have made history.
She underscored that teachers will be a part of the expansion of the TVET education across Guyana, adding that as the first set of teachers to complete the programme, they are expected to share their knowledge of these specific skills to the next generation.
“Technical and vocational education is not a lesser pathway, it is essential to preparing our people for the opportunities ahead and building a skilled workforce that can contribute to Guyana’s continued development,” the minister said.
The education minister highlighted the importance of TVET skills, noting that it opens employment opportunities, and allows those who benefit from its training the opportunity to be a relevant part of the transformation that is currently happening in our country. Pointing out Guyana’s skills shortage, she related that now more than ever skilled persons are needed in almost every area.
Continuing from this, Deputy Chief Education Officer (DCEO)- Technical, Dr Ritesh Tularam told the graduates that as they receive their CVQ certificates, they are exiting with a trained grade one, class once certificate. He said it also represents the significant change in education today.
He told those gathered, “The achievement of a CVQ represents a commitment to nationally and regionally recognised occupational standards. It demonstrates that an individual has acquired and can apply the practical skills, knowledge and competencies required to perform effectively in a particular occupational area.”
Dr Tularam further reminded teachers that they are the facilitators of the CVQ process, adding that they are the people who will transform the lives of their students, and who will take all the programmes, policies and interventions that are designed and developed at that level and actualise it at their respective schools.
In 2023, the CVQ programme became a mandatory component of the CPCE curriculum for students pursuing specialisations in Agricultural Science, Industrial Technology, Home Economics and Visual Arts. In that year, 121 TVET students across the college’s seven coastal centres were introduced to the programme.
As part of the requirements for institutional certification, CPCE invested in building its staff capacity to deliver and assess the programme. In April 2023, 14 full-time and part-time lecturers from various centres participated in Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET).
The CPCE initially offered seven occupational areas, with students registered through partner post-secondary institutions, including the Linden Technical Institute (LTI), the Essequibo Technical Institute (ETI), the Government Technical Institute (GTI), the Beterverwagting Practical Instruction Centre (BV PIC), Mahaicony Technical and Vocational Training Centre (MTVTC) and the Hopetown Practical Instruction Centre.
In November 2024, CPCE began the process of becoming a registered CVQ institution and obtained registration in June 2025. This milestone now allows the college to register its students directly for CVQ certification, strengthening its capacity to manage and deliver the programme. Monday’s closing ceremony was a result of that.
Through the continued expansion of the CVQ programme, CPCE is contributing to the development of a more skilled teaching workforce and strengthening the delivery of practical, competency-based education.
