THE technical and vocational (tech/voc) programmes being executed in schools across Guyana are achieving their purpose, as several institutions are already reporting a decline in the number of dropouts.
Minister of Education, Mr. Shaik Baksh, made the announcement when he addressed the Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC) 44th graduation ceremony.
“We want to hold you in the school system and the initiatives we have implemented are working,” he said, adding: “Reports I have received, about students pursuing vocational education, is that they are no longer dropping out.”
In that regard, Baksh said reports from St. Winefride’s and St. Mary’s secondary schools suggest an increasing number of students returning to the institutions.
Alluding to the impacts of the Secondary Competency Certificate Programme (SCCP) and other such undertakings, he said the increase in the number of returning students is an encouraging trend and, as a result, some of the accommodating buildings will have to be extended.
“What I have to do now, at St. Mary’s, is to construct another small building, because, instead of exiting the school system, the children are coming back to receive skills training ,” he explained.
Baksh said, as a result of the vocational courses, persons will now be able to leave the school system at grade nine with a certificate, rendering them equipped for the world of work.
“This means that, even if you leave school at this point, you can get admitted to GITC or other technical institutes and advance your skills or you can even enroll in the advanced SCCP programme,” he assured.

Gradual progression
The Minister said emerging graduates from the technical and vocational institutions can also advance their studies through the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ), a competency- based programme comprising  five stages, to allow for a gradual progression, the final phase of which is at the University of Guyana (UG) level.
“You can take your time but the main thing is that you have an opportunity to continue your studies until you have gained the required competency, at the end of which you can get your certificate,” he advised.
Baksh reiterated that the overall objective is to inspire the young persons in society to move ahead in the pursuit of higher education, creating, for themselves, an improved standard of living which will, ultimately, lead to an enriched society. 
“The Government of Guyana and the Ministry of Education are providing a window of opportunity for the youths to be able to pursue life long learning and I am urging you to take full advantage of this,” he told the audience.
He disclosed that there will be changes in the delivery of technical and vocational education, with attention being placed on the issuance of learning packages to students to promote open and distance learning.  
The changes, which are expected to be implemented next year, will go a step further in satisfying his ministry’s quest to cater for the varying and individual needs of learners and prepare them for the world of work, Baksh said.
He said Guyana has been leading the way in the introduction and implementation of pre-vocational programmes in the Caribbean, as it seeks to build an education system that responds to its developmental needs.