The Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Development Project has received a boost, with additional funding from the Caribbean Development Bank, to the tune of 7.317-million dollars.
A release from the Agency for Public Information (API) says funding for the project was initially approved in 2011. It says the Bank has also approved a Grant of 330-thousand U.S. dollars.
The original project was funded with a 5-million U.S.dollar loan, and was designed to assist the government in expanding the supply of skilled and employable labour, with certification that has national and regional acceptability.
The additional Loan will assist the government with the continued transformation and responsiveness of the TVET system as a vehicle for workforce development, consistent with the country’s human resource development needs, and the changing Caribbean Vocational qualifications (CVQ) environment.
The expanded scope of the project includes enhancing the learning environment for expanded and improved TVET and this will see rehabilitation works at the
Kingstown, Georgetown, Camden Park and Barrouallie Technical Institutes (TIs), and the Bequia Community High School.
There will also be construction of smart classroom blocks and ancillary works for the TIs, as well as construction of Science and Technology Labs at Bishops College and Dr. J. P. Eustace Memorial Secondary. Equipment and Tools, Furniture, Supplies and Curriculum Support Materials will also be provided along with Technical Assistance for design studies for the establishment of the Marriaqua Technical Institute and the construction of a TVET block at Union Island Secondary School.
The project also includes capacity-building for an enhanced and sustainable TVET System and as such will provide for:
Training for teachers/instructors up to the degree level in TVET skill areas;
Training of assessors and verifiers;
Training of TVET instructors in pedagogy;
Consultancy services for the training of TVET teachers/instructors in literacy and numeracy education;
Training for persons in Career Guidance and Counselling;
Training of principals and teachers in Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) methodology and Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQ) implementation; and
Training of industry professionals in standards development.
There will also be provision for improved access to training for Out-Of-School, Unemployed, “At Risk” Youth and Adults under this project. It is expected that at least 1,000 youth and adults at-risk including 90 inmates at the Kingstown Prison will be trained.
A Life Skills/Health and Family Life Education programme will also be implemented in the schools and the TIs, enhancing access to TVET programmes by persons with disabilities, the Student Support Services system will be enhanced, and a Code of Practice for collaboration within the TVET system will be established.
The Project is expected to produce a high quality, relevant and gender-responsive TVET system in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
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