MINISTER of Education, Mr. Shaik Baksh announced, recently, that greater attention will be placed on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) this year.

He made the announcement at a one day workshop for headteachers of schools which offer candidates for the Secondary Competency Certificate Programme (SCCP), at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD).

The SCCP is a technical and vocational course that offers an alternative pathway for secondary school students.

Participating, too, were heads of secondary schools offering the remedial sixth form programme in Georgetown and Regions Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam), Three (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands), Four (Demerara/Mahaica), Five (Mahaica/Berbice), Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), Seven (Cuynuni/Mazaruni) and Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice).

To all of them, Baksh explained that the move is in keeping with the Ministry’s goal to achieve the benchmarks set in its five-year strategic plan.

A component of the strategy seeks to continue work on making the TVET curriculum more relevant to the world of work; increase access to TVET; continue special training for TVET instructors; improve and upgrade physical facilities and equipment in all TVET institutions; expand the literacy programme in all TVET institutions; equip them to deliver information communication technology (ICT) programmes and increase the number of schools which have ‘Skills for Life’ tutoring for out-of-school youths.

Baksh also pointed out that, this year, two new technical and vocational education schools will be constructed in Regions Three and Five and students enrollment at Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) will be doubled while more focus is put on the delivery of distance education.

He said CPCE will be working closely with the University of Guyana (UG) to reduce the four-year Bachelor’s Degree in Education course to two years and plans are afoot to replace the Trained Teachers’ Certificate with an Associate Degree in Education.

The Thursday workshop was aimed at explaining the Ministry’s position on the SCCP and information on its implementation and delivery, utilising the competency based modularised approach to education.

Booklet
Baksh observed that many headteachers do not fully understand the system and promised them each a booklet, which explains and outlines the goals of the initiative.

He disclosed, too, that a delegation form the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) will soon visit Guyana to persuade his ministry to adopt the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level Competence Examinations (CCSLE).

The regional programme, which is similar to the SCCP, has already been implemented in several sister CARICOM States.

However, Baksh said his ministry, at this point in time, is reluctant to accept it, because there is a vested interest to develop the local process.

He, hinted, though that Guyana, would, later, implement the CXC designed one.

Currently, the SCCP implementation is underway in Grade 10 but Baksh wants it to start in Grade Nine.

He said the rationale in starting it at Grade Nine is to equip students who drop out before completion of the secondary cycle with a certificate that would make them employable on the job market.

Baksh said, as well, that the Ministry will work closely with industries and officials from such entities will be evaluating the programme.