As the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) commemorates a year of meaningful service, a new direction is emerging — one that aligns technical competency with a more profound human skill: the ability to resolve conflict. At Friday’s anniversary celebration, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton outlined an ambitious yet necessary evolution for BIT’s training programmes, an evolution that reflects both the complexity of today’s workforce and the enduring need for social cohesion.
This is a deliberate shift in mindset and methodology that would set the tone for how to prepare the next generation of workers, not only to operate machines or handle tools, but also to navigate disagreements, build consensus, and repair relationships. In essence, BIT is seeking to do more than create skilled labour; it is committing to the formation of responsible, emotionally intelligent citizens.
Hamilton captured the urgency of this vision with characteristic clarity: “It’s not just about training to get a job; it’s about learning how to solve problems.” This distinction is critical. Too often, technical and vocational education is siloed from the soft skills that make work environments functional and dignified. The introduction of conflict resolution into the heart of BIT’s curriculum acknowledges that employability is not only a function of proficiency, but also of adaptability, empathy, and the capacity to handle interpersonal dynamics.
The call for innovation and creativity in training is not just about teaching new trades; it’s about reimagining what it means to be prepared for the world of work. This reimagination must include emotional intelligence as a cornerstone of vocational excellence. And BIT, with its national reach and credibility, is uniquely positioned to lead this cultural transformation.
The broader governmental support for this pivot toward conflict resolution cannot be overlooked. Since 2021, the Human Services and Social Security Ministry has been laying the foundation through its “Train the Trainers” initiative, focusing on community support and counselling. That initiative, targeted at both ministry staff and the Support and Heal Network (SHN), has shown that structured conflict resolution training can reach deep into the grassroots. When this effort is mirrored at vocational training institutions, it ensures that both community members and workers are equipped with similar language, tools, and approaches to addressing disputes.
Moreover, the expansion of restorative justice practices into the school system in 2024, through the partnership between the Ministry of Legal Affairs and the Ministry of Education, signals a systemic push toward accountability and empathy. Led by the Restorative Justice Centre, this initiative aims to replace punitive discipline with dialogue and mutual understanding — ideals that must be replicated in training centres and workplaces alike.
Together, these efforts form a continuum from schoolyards to job sites, where conflict is not something to suppress or ignore, but to address constructively. BIT’s decision to align with this national movement is not only timely, but vital. The modern workplace demands more than competence; it demands character.
The Board of Industrial Training’s impact is already far-reaching. BIT has planted seeds of transformation. With over 12,700 persons trained in the past four years — 60% of whom are women — this is not an institution dabbling in social responsibility; it is a driver of national development. To layer conflict resolution atop this foundation is to build stronger communities, healthier workplaces, and a more resilient nation.
But implementation must be intentional. Trainers themselves must be adequately prepared. This is where the “Train the Trainers” model would be indispensable. It is not enough to add a workshop on conflict to the curriculum; resolution must be embedded in the very philosophy of instruction. Trainers must model patience, neutrality, and constructive dialogue in their interactions with trainees. Only then would conflict resolution move from concept to culture.
In a society as diverse and dynamic as Guyana, equipping citizens with the tools to navigate difference is not a luxury; it is a necessity. BIT’s renewed focus promises a future where hands are trained not only to build, but to bridge.
