Forced to adapt

With the COVID-19 pandemic, one technical and vocational training institution was forced to change, adapt and pivot as it found innovative ways to chart the course forward despite all happening in Barbados and across the world.

Chairman of the Board of Management of the Barbados Vocational Training Board's (BVTB), Benjamin Niles revealed this reality during his opening remarks at the virtual graduation ceremony for the Barbados Vocational Training Board's (BVTB) Class of 2019-2020. The event was held under the theme, "Change Calls For Innovation, The Way Forward".

Niles encouraged the graduands to keep their word and if they are unable to do so, let the individual know of any changes.

Henderson Thompson, a trained teacher in technical and vocational training and BVTB's Director, delivered the Director's report. He said the skills training programme, the first semester started August 20, 2019, and the second semester on January 20, 2020, with an enrollment of 527 trainees across 24 different programmes. He noted that March 20 saw the advent of the coronavirus, which posed a challenge for vocational training, an unprecedented one. Thompson said the Board met to formulate innovative ways of providing learning under a pandemic.

He noted that educational delivery was curtailed as the country grappled with its first COVID-19 case outbreak. The speaker noted that the BVTB needed to ensure that it embraced technology and improved access through digital channels to communicate and service the students.

"The Board's mandate was to streamline our operations by improving our delivery to our key stakeholders and partners as we seek to ensure our students weren't disadvantaged and to complete training where possible," said Thompson.

Thompson said some of the theoretical aspects of the programmes were provided online as the organisation awaited official word from the government to resume face-to-face training. He noted that face-to-face resumed on May 27, 2020, with careful assessment and the permission of the COVID-19 Monitoring Unit. In addition, the semester was extended to ensure students were able to complete the programme and gain certification. Classes were divided into morning and afternoon to meet the social distancing requirements while students and staff adhered to protocols outlined and followed guidelines. Despite COVID-19 resulting in several withdrawals after the lockdown, there are 280 graduands across the trades of the skills training programme. Thompson noted that the evening programme was heavily subscribed and it was delivered three times annually. In February 2020, 400 students enrolled and there was the inclusion of autotronics, cake and pastry and forklift operator. He said face-to-face classes were brought to a halt in March 2020 and restarted in May and ended in September 2020. Thompson said 306 evening students graduated on Saturday. With Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQs), Thompson said 92 students will receive this qualification across the trades which include, information and communication technology, food preparation and cookery, bar services, food and drink service, carpentry level 2 and furniture making level 2. In the apprenticeship programme, 57 persons were registered for the programme, 41 in 2019 and 16 in 2020. He highlighted that the pandemic affected the level of registration in this area.

Three staff members also achieved excellence after completing training at the Erdiston Teachers' Training College. The Valedictorian, WorldSkills Barbados 2020 silver medallist in the Cooking category, and the recipient of the Director's Award was Kodie Hinds.