Need to diversify educational opportunities
Minister of Youth and Community Empowerment Adrian Forde says there is a need to diversify educational opportunities to reflect market trends and emerging interests.
Delivering the feature address at the recent opening ceremony of the Barbados Workers’ Union’s Youth Congress at Solidarity House, held under the theme ‘The Future We Want’, Minister Forde said it is important to present opportunities to young people that match their interests, those of national development as well as those that fit labour force requirements. To that end, he said this may involve retooling the technical and vocational education curriculum to support a new class of entrepreneurs in a variety of areas.
“We must also strive for the creation of an economy that embraces all persons of various competencies, skills and experiences,” he added.
His comments came as he spoke to the myriad challenges facing Barbadian youth including high unemployment; limited access to tertiary education; violence; sexual and reproductive health concerns; full participation in the national political and governance processes; limited opportunities to fully exploit their creative talents and access to resources. Given that reality, he said his ministry sees its role as to create and or advocate for an enabling environment so that Barbadians, particularly the youth, are able to pursue their goals.
“My government has also heard these pleas and has responded with alacrity to put systems in place to ensure that the social malaise that afflicted our society over the past several years is arrested and that the youth have at their disposal, a series of policies, programmes and services to address their current concerns. The future you want is the future my ministry, and by extension, the government wants for you. There are a number of programmes already available within the ministry that can assist with helping you realise your desires and your needs,” he stated.
One such initiative, the Youth and Community Empowerment Minister said is the Youth Development Programme, which he explained, offers a variety of community-based training sessions aimed at stimulating employment, developing sporting skills and contributing to community togetherness. He noted that there is also the Youth Entrepreneurship Programme, through which persons have access to training, mentorship and financial support to help develop an idea into a sustainable business venture.
Speaking more to programmes executed by his ministry, Forde said that the longstanding Barbados Youth Service which assists in shaping youth into well-rounded, productive and civic minded citizens has also been doing excellent work. Meanwhile, he noted that for those who have not realised their full academic potential or wish to embark on vocational training but lack the economic means to do so, there is the Youth Mainstreaming Programme. He said that through this state funded initiative, youth have the opportunity to access vocational training programmes through which they can acquire skills for the job market. (JRT)