GPS now TVET accredited to expand vocational training for inmates

The Guyana Prison Service (GPS) is now accredited by the Education Ministry’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Unit to undertake the necessary skills training programmes for prisoners. The registration, granted on Thursday, marks the first phase of implementation and will allow inmates to pursue Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQs) and National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) while serving their sentences. The initiative forms part of the Prison Service’s broader rehabilitation strategy aimed at strengthening reintegration outcomes through structured skills development and certified training. TVET has been identified as the preferred delivery mechanism due to its competency-based approach, which focuses on practical skills and industry-relevant training designed to prepare participants for employment upon release.

During the handover ceremony, Chairman of the Council for TVET (CTVET), Elon Sooknanand, and Acting Director David Glasgow both welcomed the development and reaffirmed institutional support for its rollout.
Sooknanand said TVET remains committed to expanding access to quality technical and vocational education across Guyana while strengthening partnerships with key institutions. TVET, he noted, will continue to support programmes that deliver industry-relevant training and broaden opportunities for skills development nationwide. Acting Assistant Director of Prisons, Oliver Cox, described the initiative as a significant step in the ongoing reform of the correctional system, highlighting its focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment alone.
She said the collaboration between the GPS and TVET represents a major advancement in correctional reform, emphasising the role of structured skills training in supporting behavioural change and improving reintegration prospects. Level One certification in carpentry and welding will be the first programmes delivered under the new framework, with further courses expected to be introduced as implementation progresses.
The GPS has been progressively shifting its correctional approach from custodial punishment toward rehabilitation and reintegration, with technical and vocational education forming a central pillar of that strategy.
The GPS operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and is mandated to ensure safe custody of offenders while also promoting rehabilitation and reintegration through structured programmes, including training and education initiatives for inmates. Over recent years, the prison system has expanded its skills development programmes across multiple facilities, with more than 1300 inmates participating in rehabilitation and vocational training initiatives aimed at improving employability after release.
These programmes include technical skills, academic development and behavioural training designed to reduce recidivism and support reintegration into society. The introduction of TVET certification within the prison system aligns with Guyana’s broader national education strategy, which prioritises TVET as a key driver of workforce development, economic growth and social inclusion. The national TVET framework emphasises competency-based certification, such as Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQs) and National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs), which are recognised across the region and designed to meet labour market demands.