“Discover your potential with TVET”
As part of TVET month, the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA) hosted a National TVET Symposium with support from the SkYE programme. The Symposium was held on the 27th November and was attended by about 90 participants. Similar to the Symposium in Dominica, the event brought together training providers, employers, government and other relevant stakeholders and served as a platform for exchanging experience and perspectives on skills development policy, practice, and to identify bottlenecks in the TVET sector. The event was opened with remarks from: Mr Kenroy Questelles, Director of the National Qualifications Department, Mr Richard Hanson, Team Leader of the SkYE Programme, and Hon. St. Clair Prince, Minister of Education.
The key note address was provided by Hon. Camillo Gonsalves, Minister of Finance, Economic Planning, Sustainable Development and Information Technology. The Minister spoke about enhancing the role of TVET to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the country. He stressed the need to realign the TVET sector by offering training programmes that are responsive to labour market demand. In addition, there needs to be renewed focus on soft skills so that persons can gain employment and function effectively in the work place. The Minister concluded that TVET must take a people centered approach where the focus is on personal development and life-long learning, in that way the country’s economic growth potential can be achieved.
Maureen Webber, Project Coordinator for the World Bank Human Development Service Delivery Project led a session to create awareness among participants about the value of persons with disabilities and how they can also make significant contributions to a country’s economic growth. Maureen highlighted the TVET sector is a crucial space to reduce the barriers to economic inclusion and made a particular request for all employers to make small and realistic changes towards more inclusive recruitment.
An interactive panel discussion invited the audience to pose questions on how to “Build Synergies between TVET and the Private Sector”. The session was moderated by Ms Marla Nanton-James, and panellist included: Mr Osborne Bowens – St Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (TVET Dept.), Mr Peter Van Whervin – Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Ms Helena Thomas – Employer’s Federation, Mr Noel Jackson – National Labour Congress and Mr. Matthew Greaves – Caribbean Association of National Training Authorities.
The event was concluded with Dwight Lewis, SkYE’s Country Coordinator, challenging the audience on ways to move TVET initiatives forward. He highlighted key points arising from the day’s discussion:
- establish mechanisms for continuous development of relevant and quality programmes;
- develop strong linkages with industry and employers to ensure a more demand-driven training system;
- promote the concept of work-placed training as part of TVET;
- TVET provision should be infused with life skills training including: soft skills, foundation skills, and employability skills;
- large scale investments in the country should include provisions for TVET within any contractual arrangements;
- foster a culture of parity between academia and TVET;
- improved access to vocational training and employment for PWDs.
