BASSETERRE St. Kitts, April 2nd 2012 (CUOPM) – The Ministry of Education has presented to the Cabinet a comprehensive National TVET Implementation Plan that seeks to secure significant improvements over the short to medium term in the delivery of technical and vocational education and training in the Federation.
Senior Officials from the Ministry of Education, led by the Acting Permanent Secretary Ionie Liburd-Willett as well as Chief Education Officer Dr. Patrick Welcome; Education Planner Mr. Quinton Morton; Education Officer for TVET Mr. Glen Edwards; TVET Council Chairman Mr. Clyde Christopher, and Director of TVET Development Mr. Fritzroy Wilkin, were on-hand to assist in the presentation.
Minister of Information, Sen. the Hon. Nigel Carty, who is also Minister of Education noted that in addressing the short-comings of the TVET programme and in helping to chart the way forward for sustainable development, the National TVET Plan identifies the following goals, among others.
“The development of a competent workforce through improving relevance and quality in our TVET programme; the improved alignment of fragmented programmes and award schemes (or certification schemes); changing the low image status and stigmatization of technical programmes; promoting TVET as a gender-neutral programme and placing TVET in the gender mainstream; establishing appropriate facilities and infrastructure for training; effective teacher training and human resource development in our technical programmes and strengthening the oversight mechanisms for TVET in the Federation, among other significant goals,” said Mr. Carty.
He noted that all secondary schools, AVEC (Advanced Vocational Education Centre), Project Strong, the National Skills Training Programme (NSTP) and the CFBC (Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College) will see significant improvement in their technical programmes, all geared towards the fulfillment of the outlined goals and objectives of the TVET Plan.
Minister Carty said that at the CFBC in particular, there are short to medium term plans to overhaul and improve or introduce the delivery of the following specific courses: Agricultural Studies; Air conditioning and Repair; Architectural Design Technology, Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Hospitality Studies and Culinary Arts; Information and Communication Technology, Motor Vehicle Engineering; Office Administration and Management Studies; and Construction, Carpentry and Joinery.
“These programmes have been identified based on the needs of the labour market and the new direction of our local economy. New programme spaces will be created. Modern tools and equipment will be acquired. Training and recruiting of staff to deliver modern and industry-relevant courses will be undertaken. There will be a mainstreaming of TVET training so that both males and females can find a place in any of our technical and vocational programmes,” said Minister Carty.
He said Cabinet approved the National TVET Implementation Plan and assigned a very high level of priority to the TVET agenda which is to attract support from various government sectors and our development partners.
St. Kitts and Nevis has made significant strides over the last 40 years in general education. However, one of the components of our education system which in recent times have been identified for immediate improvement and overhaul is our Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme. In fact, it is well agreed that skills training of necessity has to be at the forefront of all our national efforts as we pursue the development of the Tourism, Agricultural, Construction and the Technology sectors. It was for this reason that the TVET Council was installed in December 2010 and that the TVET Road Map was presented to and endorsed by the Cabinet of Ministers in January of 2011.
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