Thirty-six students from the Barrouallie Technical Institute (BARTECH) are now more equipped to master their skill of choice following their graduation from the Barrouallie Technical Institute.
During their graduation, which was held under the theme “Training Hands and Minds, Maximizing Potentials”, the students received certificates in data operations, commercial food preparation, food and drink services, and garment production, in keeping with BARTECH’s mission to provide opportunities for trainees to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to become competent practitioners, capable of top class performance in any part of the world.
Pearlette Primus-Hannaway, principal of BARTECH, highlighted the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and government’s investment in the Access to another Nexus in Education (ANEW) workforce development programme and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Hannaway also expressed thanks to the Mustique Charitable Foundation for the provision of 20 scholarships to students to the tune of over EC$20,000.
Hannaway told the new graduates that their enrollment and completion of their respective courses showed their determination to improve their standards of living and to make a meaningful contribution to the development of their families and the country.
She urged the graduates to continue upgrading themselves and that level 1 is only the beginning. She urged them to stay on course.
Hannaway expressed gratitude to Deneisha Caesar, a former student, who volunteers as a teacher in the Food and Preparation programme, for assisting the students wholeheartedly.
Dixton Findlay, deputy chief education officer, thanked the Mustique Charitable Foundation for its support and collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
Findlay described TVET and the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) programmes as driving forces for economic development in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In light of this, Findlay encouraged persons currently enrolled in the Institute to become emotionally invested and not to take their training for granted.
Kenroy Questelles, director of the National Qualifications Department (NQD) said the NQD’S objective is to provide quality education to the nation. Questelles pointed out to graduates that they now have marketable skills which they can use across the Caribbean to attain employment.
This is because the certification you have received is valid and highly credible throughout the Caribbean region, he emphasised.
Teacher and feature speaker Roslyn Hazelwood, encouraged the graduates to practice their skills wholeheartedly so that they can master them.
“In this way, you can market your skills and have the potential to grow your skills set into an independent business,” she said.
Well done the graduates. I wish them all the best in obtaining gainful employment, to continue to develop themselves.