GIVE WORKERS SECOND CHANCE

The Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI) is being challenged to give retrenched workers a second chance for retraining and
retooling.

According to Senator the Hon. Lucille Moe, Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training (ag), this will then allow persons to attain a full certificate, diploma or vocational qualification by obtaining a specific set of skills.

“Government’s acceptance and endorsement of the SJPI’s mandate, which focuses on providing educational programming to meet the needs of industry, allows us to subscribe to an ideology that SJPI is the bedrock of our evolving human resource development strategy,” she said

The Senator, who was at the time addressing the 2018 Graduation and Awards Ceremony, held at the Hilton Barbados Resort on Saturday night, acknowledged that SJPI has been making significant strides in programming, as it continues to work hand in hand with the TVET Council in order to expand the number of disciplines in which its learners can access vocational qualifications at levels 2 and 3 at the Institution.

Added to this, she said that the Ministry of Education, with its eyes fixed on the architecture of the future, continues to support the advancement of the Institution and is heartened by the significant investment into its programming, aided by funding managed through the Skills for the Future Project.

“I congratulate the Institution working together with its industry partners in training 200 students in key skill areas, in addition to over 900 students already trained annually,” she expressed, noting that skill areas include Garment Technology, Renewable Energy, Fibre Optics, Computer Numeric Control Technology and Live Sound Engineering.

“I want to re-emphasise that these programmes were not designed as “one day wonders” which will die a quick death after training the first cohort of students. Rather, because of the increased capacity developed, the upgraded infrastructure of our workshops, the acquisition of state-of-the-art equipment and the training and technical skills gained by our instructors, these investments will live on.”

Moreover, reflecting on the graduation theme “Architects of our Future”, Senator Moe urged the graduates not to settle for average; ask questions; see things through until the end; get feedback about their work; and ask for help.

“Keep connected to your instructors and your classmates, keep connected to the supervisors and work colleagues you met while on job attachment, ask for their help and seek their input.”

This year’s graduation class comprised of 305 full-time students.

Principal Ian Drakes reported that during the academic year 2017-2018, the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology delivered training to 1 686 students. An increase of almost 100 students over 2016-2017.

“The SJPI enrolled 932 students in full-time programs of which 609 were first years, 292 second years and 31 third years. This represented 695 males and 297 females. Included in this data were 17 students from across the region. Additionally, we enrolled 694 students in continuing education courses and programmes of which 414 were males and 280 females”.

Drakes also shared that the academic year projected for 518 students to be placed on job attachments, however he disclosed that only 410 were placed.
“This was attributed to the slow economic downturn that the country is grappling with currently. Nonetheless, our industry partners have been assuring us that the strengthening of this relationship will continue to benefit our students in the future,” he said.
(TL)