Ninety-one trainees successfully graduated from the Education Ministry’s Department of Culture, Youth and Sport’s Youth Entrepreneurial Skills Training (YEST) programme on Thursday at Vrymen’s Erven Training Centre, New Amsterdam, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) while the Sophia Training Centre had its graduation on Friday.
The YEST courses offers remedial Mathematics, English and Information Technology courses to high-school drop-outs, the unskilled and unemployed aged 16-25 years, spanning all 10 administrative regions across Guyana.
Other areas of study include business, carpentry, masonry, motor mechanics, plumbing and welding. The trainees had during the course of the programme benefited from educational tours, field trips, sporting activities; participation in national and religious activities, counselling sessions and workshops on drug use.
Several local organisations facilitated the tour of students, providing invaluable opportunities geared at equipping them with relevant skills for the world of work.
Permanent Secretary at the Education Ministry, Melissa Tucker in her address to the graduating class (at Vrymen’s Erven Training Centre) extended congratulations to the graduates while commending them for their perseverance, dedication and commitment which they displayed over the past six-month training period.
“Very shortly you would be reaping the rewards of your labour. You are graduating here today because you have fulfilled the requirements for your certification,” Tucker told the graduates.
“Too many of our youth start out very enthusiastically on training in different forms and levels, but somewhere along the journey they lose focus; they become distracted; they do not exhibit the kind of discipline that is necessary for success. They give up too easily; they allow the opportunity to develop themselves to go by,” she said.
The trainees while being celebrated for staying the course were advised that the training they received at the institution has made them marketable. Tucker advised them that they are now in a position to practice their trade and earn a living, support their families and assist in the development of their respective communities and country on the whole.
