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TVET programme gets $3.6M injection
Technical institutes in Guyana are now in a better position to carry out their mandate after being recipients of a quantity of technical learning materials and equipment from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
The gifts were handed over yesterday to the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (CTVET) Secretariat and will be forwarded to the technical institutes across the country. The Guyana Technical Institute (GTI); the Essequibo Technical Institute (ETI) and the Carnegie School of Home Economics were listed among those to benefit.
According to UNESCO’s Secretary-General, Ms. Inge Nathoo, the grant
The equipment that were donated.
came as a result of an application for the strengthening of the TVET Council that was put forward by Minister of Education Priya Manickchand in 2011. She said that approval for the application came in May 2013.
Nathoo said that the initial application was for supplies valued at USD$26,000, however, due to financial difficulties suffered by UNESCO as a result of the pull out of some key members of the organisation, the funds have dwindled.
Nevertheless, Nathoo noted that her organisation has approved USD $18,000 to be used for this purpose. She said that the funds, which translate to roughly GYD $3.6 M has been used to facilitate a 10-day workshop for assessors as well as to provide the equipment that were handed over.
Also speaking at the simple ceremony yesterday was Clinton Williams Chairman of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) as well as Chairman of CTVET, who noted that the support shown to TVET would in fact benefit the nation’s economy.
He said TVET’s vision could simply be seen as “education for employment.”
“It is recognized internationally that the state of every country’s economic development is inextricably linked to its productivity and international competitiveness; and concomitant is its capacity to build and sustain a competent work force. Our mission is to conceptualize, coordinate and deliver modular-based education and training in order to create and sustain a work force that is accredited to be internationally competitive.”
Mr. Williams also acknowledged that the intervention of UNESCO in providing the supplies is timely. He said that the supplies will no doubt provide a positive impact that will boost the national strategic plan with respect to accelerating implementation of competency-based training across the country.
The Chairman also took the opportunity to express gratitude to UNESCO for the recently concluded workshop which he said will allow for implementation of a national strategy of assessment and certification, and ultimately implementation of quality assurance guidelines. This, according to Williams, is a critical factor as it is a precondition for Guyana to be recognized as an accreditation body for awarding the CARICOM Vocational Qualification, (CVQ) among other certification.
It was urged that proper care, adequate maintenance and security be administered to the equipment received.
Ms. Nathoo said that in order to ensure transparency and accountability in the management and use of the equipment, UNESCO will be monitoring and evaluating the situation from time to time.
“UNESCO has a very rigid programme for monitoring and evaluation; so from time to time auditors will come and they will be checking.”
While these measures will be put into place to ensure that the equipment is not being misused, Ms. Nathoo expressed confidence that the applicants of the grants “are honourable people with wisdom and integrity. We do have confidence in our applicants that they would be able to account in a transparent manner for the things we have donated and we will be able to see improved results in the sector.”
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