Dr Ritesh Tularam is the Head of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Unit at the Ministry of Education.
September is designated as Education Month and this year we observe it under the theme “Education for all: Innovative Teaching and Learning in a Global Pandemic.”
Dr Ritesh Tularam
It is a known and acknowledged fact that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is considered as skill training, which ultimately leads to enhanced productivity and sustained competitiveness in the global economic sphere.
Notably, worldwide, countries are renewing efforts to promote Technical and Vocational Education and Training. This is because it is recognised and reciprocated as the only way to prepare young and logical thinking individuals of workable age for the world of employment.
Interestingly, this model of education delivery significantly reduces the high rate of unemployment that has been leading to increasing poverty and serious social problems. It also addresses the psychosocial, emotional and financial inequalities within our geographical spaces.
In Guyana TVET acts as a 21st century tool for the alleviation and/or the reduction of poverty while creating a balance in society.
Notwithstanding, global research has positively shown that there can be no sustainable national development without vocational and technical education, and there can be no vocational and technical education without skills acquisition. The issue of sustainable national development is not a one-day event, but constant or continuous process that affects the citizens positively. So, education is the process that helps in the development and positions persons to capitalise on those opportunities.
According to Narling-Hammond (2010), it is believed that quality education is the key variable for the survival of the citizenry in a competitive economy. He further posited that parents, practitioners and policy makers agree that the key to transform the nation’s economy is to improve quality of education with more emphasis on TVET.
Notably, in support of Hammond’s position, Fafunwa (1997) asserted that education is the aggregate of all the processes by which a child, the young, or adults develops the abilities, attitudes and other forms of behaviour which are of positive value to the transformation of the society in which he lives. Education therefore involves the process of transmitting culture in terms of continuity and growth and for disseminating knowledge. TVET, thus, plays an orientation role towards the world of work and its curriculum emphasises on the acquisition of such employable skills, which is a fundamental necessity for driving the industrial and economic growth. Additionally, it is a key to building this type of technical and entrepreneurial workforce.
Consequently, the importance of TVET for national development need not to be over emphasised, this is because vocational and technical education provides the necessary knowledge, skills and competencies for survival and sustainable national development for the 21st century. It was Akpan (2002) who maintained that TVET is the gateway through which practical competencies can be successfully transferred for the sustenance of the country.
In light of the foregoing, let me to highlight some of the potential benefits of TVET in this revolutionised ecological space. Specifically, TVET provides, but is not limited to vis-à-vis;
Youth Empowerment: through vocational and technical education the youths would be sensitised, mobilised, motivated and gingered for self-employment and self-reliance. Effective acquisition of vocational and technical skills will inculcate entrepreneurial skills that would help the youths to be self-reliant, this will in turn bring about national development.
Consumer Education: consumer education promotes better understanding of individual relationship with business. TVET educates the youths in the development of consumers business and socio-economic competencies. It therefore makes the youths intelligent consumers of goods and services. A good knowledge of consumer education helps to serve every individual in making adjustments in the economic arena. TVET educates the public on the consumption of goods and services and fosters healthy business communication consideration and discourages exploitation which could deter the socio-economic growth of the society.
Formation of Attitudes: TVET educates the populace with proper knowledge, vocational behaviour and attitude needed for successful vocational and technical career formation. It also inculcates, in the citizens, efficient methods of distribution of goods and services to consumers and desirable social and cultural behaviour needed for sustainable national development.
Manpower Development: in this significantly transformative emerging oil economy that Guyana is at the cusp, TVET must be the way forward in providing highly competent, skilled, trained and dedicated vocational and technical education professionals for the sustainable production of various levels of business and technical manpower. This is to ensure the citizenry are above subsistence level of poverty, and provide a solid base for healthy multi-cultural transformation that would eliminate over dependence on foreign economic.
Training and Empowerment for Necessary Skills: TVET will provide the training and skills that will lead to the production of craftsmen, technicians and other skilled personnel who will significantly assist in transforming the existing growing economy for sustainable national development with the new and emerging skills, knowledge and attitudes to satisfy the global market competitiveness.
Introduction to Professional Studies: TVET will provide introduction to professional studies in engineering and technologies which is the bedrock for economic transformation and national development.
Career Education: TVET provides educational experiences and abilities that would enable students to make intelligent, conscious and sound occupational decisions. Moreover, it provides opportunities for students to make realistic decisions about a successful and satisfying career for economic survival and sustainable national development in the 21st century.
And so, in spite of the above-mentioned benefits there are numerous other benefits that can be accrued from TVET education in the beautiful country of ours, Guyana. TVET is the master key for the alleviation of the social, economic and financial inequalities in Guyana.
Let’s work in a dialogic mode of collaboration in ensuring that TVET achieves its ultimate agenda.
