$252.7M technical and vocational facility commissioned in Region 3

Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Wednesday officially commissioned the $252.7 million upgrade of the Fellowship Practical Instruction Centre (PIC) on the West Coast of Demerara.

This vocational and technical learning facility is expected to accommodate approximately 400 students, who will come from several secondary schools across the region to do technical subjects at the upgraded institution.
Training programmes offered at the centre include electrical work, woodworking, and food and nutrition, equipping students with the competencies necessary for Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) certification. The facility comes equipped with tools and equipment, as well as ICT resources and furnishings.
Delivering the feature address at the commissioning, Manickchand emphasised the importance of an education system that is responsive to national needs, noting that the facility is part of the Government’s commitment to providing practical skills that align with the demands of a modern job market, thereby ensuring every child has a bright future.
“Any education system that is good has to be responsive to the needs of the country. At the end of the day, it gives them relevant skills,” Manickchand said.
Also attending the commissioning ceremony were Regional Chairman Inshan Ayube, Deputy Chief Education Officer-Technical, Dr Ritesh Tularam, Deputy Chief Education Officer – Admin, Tiffany Harvey, and Headteacher of the Fellowship Practical Instruction Centre (PIC), Julian Cambridge.

During his remarks, Ayube highlighted the facility’s significance as he described it as a realization of the Government’s commitment to securing a promising future for the nation’s youth.
“Each child of this country is blessed with different talents and abilities,” he noted. “Institutions like this are needed in order to cater to students who gravitate toward different fields.”
The Fellowship Practical Instruction Centre is part of the broader Guyana Skills Development and Employability Project (GSDEP) funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). This initiative aims at upgrading PICs in Regions Three, Four, and Five alongside Practical Instruction Departments in hinterland secondary schools, thereby enhancing technical vocational education and training (TVET) across the country.
At the commissioning ceremony, the Office of the Deputy Chief Education Officer for Technical Education donated several pieces of safety gear to the institution, including helmets, safety vests, gloves, and goggles. The safety gear will be used to ensure a secure learning environment for students as they engage in practical training.