…with a more holistic training programme targeting youths
Following a successful run, the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) initiative will be replaced with a more holistic training programme targeting youths across the country.
This was according to Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock.
According to the Department of Public Information (DPI), Minister Allicock explained that while the current HEYS initiative has accomplished much, it would be restructured to incorporate other training programmes for youths in the various sectors. This will be achieved through a collaboration between the Ministries of Education and Social Cohesion.
Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Minister Sydney Allicock
“This will be done to create a more holistic training package for youths throughout Guyana. Currently, the first cohort of the HEYS programme is being reviewed and from that information, we will be guided. The aim is to incorporate all the other programmes and to create an aggressive package for the youths in Guyana,” Minister Allicock explained.
The Education Ministry has been tasked with developing a paper for the new programme. Additionally, the Green Enterprise Development Centre that will be established at Bina Hill, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), will further prepare Indigenous youths for the anticipated developments expected to accrue from the oil and gas sector.
The flagship initiative is expected to serve 120 students from Regions One, Seven, Eight, Nine and Ten. The sum of $79 million has been allocated in the 2018 Budget to commence the construction of the facility.
Some 1872 Indigenous youths received training through the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry in a number of skilled areas. Another 1958 youths are nearing completion of their training, making it a total of 3830 trained over a two-year period.
The Government’s vision is to develop and implement a plan for a universalising programme of technical and vocational training, through the creation of skills training centres and programmes in every region.
