APPROXIMATELY 445 graduates are now boasting certification in extremely valuable skills from the Government Technical Institute (GTI), after the institution’s annual Graduation and Prize Giving Ceremony at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown last Thursday.

The successful ones emerged with passes, credits and distinctions from various departments , including Building, Business, Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Science and Land Surveying.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Telephone &Telegraph Company (GT&T), Major General (rt’d) Joseph Singh, who delivered the feature address, encouraged those who graduated to view themselves as assets to their country and urged them to prepare for the difficult and challenging road ahead.
He warned them that there are many challenges; but if they want to move from the bottom to the top, they need to continue with education and training.
Singh also noted the need for the emerging professionals to pay high regard to health and safety protocols when they enter the workplace.
He cautioned the group that their biggest challenge will come from their future employers, some of whom will not pay them the wages they deserve.

Take advantage
However, Singh urged them to take advantage of the employment and recruitment agencies set up to facilitate their introduction into the workforce.
GTI Principal, Mr. Carl Benn, proudly pointed out that this year’s pass rate is one of the highest over the years and he congratulated the students and staff for this record.
He also mentioned his concern over the perception that students who are academically challenged cannot succeed at technical institutes.
Noting that society perceives and views those academically challenged as the ones who attend technical institutes, he said that is wrong.
Chairman of the GTI Board of Governors, Major General (rt’d) Norman McLean, referred to the institution as a modest one which has made great strides to ensure it provides skilled and talented people for the workforce
He added that social recruitment can only be achieved  by education and hard work, not just money.
It was the 59th graduation exercise of the GTI, which was established in 1951, and offers educational training to Guyanese youths and adults in technical, commercial and scientific fields.
The valedictorian this year was Joy Romain of the Secretarial Science Business Department, and the best graduating students are Donald Cox, Lancelot Baptiste and Sylvia Conway, while Patrick Chinedu walked away with the prize for the most outstanding first year student.