129 graduate from BIT Training Programmes

Apr 21, 2016 News

…2015 saw 1625 graduating
A total of 129 persons received their certificates from the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) for successfully completing training in their respective fields of interest, yesterday.

The Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence.

The event was held at the National Cultural Centre, Mandela Avenue, and saw participation from the Minister of Social Protection, Volda Lawrence, and representatives from various governmental and non-governmental agencies.
These graduates were involved in various programmes from several teaching institutions and received training in their area of choice, such as Welding and Fabrication; Sexual Reproductive Health; Catering and Cake Decorating; Auto Mechanical training; Heavy-duty operation training; PC Repairs and Information Technology; Youth Empowerment ; Care for the Elderly training etc.
The Certificate the graduates received yesterday afternoon, are accepted throughout the country and the Caribbean. The BIT is currently working towards a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Level. The 2015 programmes have thus far produced 1625 graduates through the National Training Project for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE).
The National Training Project for Youth Empowerment (NTPYE) is a programme which was launched by former President, Bharrat Jagdeo in June 2005 and is aimed at providing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), to out-of-school youths across the country.
The programme is implemented by the BIT.
According to the BIT website, the programme consists of on the job training and exposure to life skills educational classes. The youths who are targeted are between the ages of 15 and 25. Most of these youths do not have the requisite CSEC qualifications to enter the job market or they may not have completed secondary education.
The Project is intended to train 1750 youths in one year in a variety of occupations on demand. So far, the Project has been implemented in all of the regions with the exception of Region Eight; programmes are scheduled to go on-stream there soon.
The trainees are provided with a monthly $6000 travelling allowance, $25,000 worth in safety gear and National Insurance Scheme coverage.
Courses can run for periods of four months to one year. Most courses are of six months duration.
Businesses are asked to teach trainees on the job and to provide for the evaluation of their performance.
Minister Volda Lawrence, during her feature address, commended the efforts of the BIT for their involvement in providing youths with the “requisite” skills and tools to function in society.
“But you have the daunting task of shaping and influencing their young minds in a direction of self-worth, competence, self-reliance and self-sufficiency of inculcating positive values at a time when our society is riddled with so many social ills. The Ministry of Social Protection – under whose umbrella you are, is cognisant of your efforts and expresses its deep appreciation for your commitment to our youths,” the Minister said.
Lawrence said that she welcomes the BIT’s initiative to provide skills training to the differently-able groups including, the deaf and visually-impaired. She also informed the gathering that the empowerment of women features highly on the Ministry’s list of development goals.
“…And so I exhort the BIT to target our women so that they develop and acquire skills, which will allow them to advance their careers in the field of entrepreneurship; bringing an end to their impoverishment and engendering their self-sufficiency” she said.
The Minister then challenged BIT to make an impression on the youths during their interaction with them; to instil onto them how pivotal the role of training and education are. By doing this, the Minister stated that it will ensure the future of the trainees and ultimately, the sustainability of Guyana.
Minister Lawrence delivered the charge to the graduates, in her opening; she commended them for choosing to be proactive and their will to empower their lives to bring about stability in their homes and communities.
She urged the graduates to be aggressive in their pursuit of education so that they can be marketable to generate an income.
“Educational opportunities, vocational pursuits, are the answer…Do not be satisfied with what you have achieved, you have the potential to rise to greater heights. So I challenge you to be imaginative, creative and entertain thoughts of further development, “Minister Lawrence said.