Grenada is one step closer to establishing its own Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) Programme.

The Agency for Reconstruction and Development (ARD) is assisting with the coordination of this undertaking. On Monday, the ARD facilitated a presentation to Cabinet by Mr. Fazal Karim, Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies (CANTA), which was followed by a presentation to stakeholders at the ARD Conference Room.

Referring to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) TVET Strategy, Mr. Karim said CANTA, which is based in Trinidad, is seeking ways to harmonise both the delivery and the assessment of technical and vocational training in the Region.

“At CANTA we say education makes one trainable; training makes one employable; and attitude keeps us in employment,” Mr. Karim told stakeholders.

He said a successful TVET programme can help a country avoid duplication, reduce competition for scarce resources and facilitate harmonisation in curricula. Moreover training standards must be benchmarked internationally.

An effective TVET programme also provides for assessments that recognise abilities and the level of skills a person has acquired on the job, thereby building self-esteem and promoting entrepreneurship.

The ARD is collaborating with CANTA, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth Development and other stakeholders in the development of the TVET programme for Grenada. This will require a labour market survey, as well as a survey of the various public and private sector institutions offering skills training.

“The trainers can’t decide what the employers want. Training must be demand driven, not supply driven,” Mr. Karim added.