Life skills training programme for over 100 individuals – Labour Minister

Persons are now being equipped with the necessary tools to advance themselves in the workforce as the Labour Ministry in collaboration with the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) on Tuesday rolled out their new ‘Life Skills’ training programme through online course provider Coursera.
Speaking at the virtual launch of the new programme, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton highlighted that the programme was being discussed two years ago.
In this regard the minister noted that it is not only important for persons to have technical skills as well as theoretical skills he noted that in the workforce these skills are crucial.
“You cannot be a good plumber or electrician if you don’t not know how to do a bill of quantity. If you don’t have an understanding of English and Mathematics Arithmetic’s you will lose out on the job as skillful as you are” the minister asserted.
On this point Hamilton highlighted that the Ministry is currently seeking to develop more programmes of a similar nature that will be administered to persons at the Board of Industrial Training (BIT). He highlighted that by equipping persons with these skills, new innovations to solve various problems will be created.
“That is one of the conversations coming out of this partnership, how you can help us to ensure that our training goes beyond the normal teaching people technical skills. How the skills will help the country deal with inefficiencies and things that are deficient, teach a man a building construction programme on how you can build a house faster better” the minister stated.
Also present at the launch was the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) Chief Executive Officer Richard Maugh, who underscored that the Board of Industrial Training will continue to provide Guyanese with the necessary resources needed for them to upskill themselves. In this regard, he encouraged participants to take the course seriously.
“For those who are befitting from the training we want to encourage you not to take lightly the opportunity that has been afforded you and to make sure that at the end of the period that you have the license that you make maximum use of it” he posited.
At the time of the launch, more than 115 beneficiaries seized the opportunity to register for the online life training programme. The programme will equip persons with Literacy, Numeracy, Health and wellness and entrepreneurships skills. Additionally, persons who complete the programme will be sent to the Central Recruitment and Manpower Agency and will be awarded a job based on their qualifications.