New partnership paves way for increased training opportunities

Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton and Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT) Richard Maughn recently engaged in a discussion with representatives from George Brown College (GBC) in Canada to explore avenues for increased skills training opportunities in Guyana, in efforts to boost the workforce and enhanced its capabilities.
Dr. Gervan Fearon and Dean Dr Adel Esayed from the Centre for Construction and Engineering Technologies at GBC were among the official guests present at the gathering. The discussions on Thursday centred on forging a partnership between the ministry and the GBC to further the government’s ongoing initiatives in creating an even more skilled workforce in the country.
This collaboration seeks to equip young individuals with the necessary skillsets for employment and also expand the reach of the “train-the-trainer” programmes.
Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton briefly highlighted the ministry’s achievements, citing a substantial increase in training opportunities for over 11,000 individuals nationwide within three years, compared to the previous administration abysmal performance. This achievement, he noted, will be enhanced as his ministry, through BIT, is gearing up to introduce new training courses throughout 2024 to provide individuals with the knowledge and expertise required for more efficient task execution.
He emphasised that this strategic plan will propel the Ministry towards its objective of making technical vocational educational training as prominent as academic learning.
Meanwhile, following the meeting which was held at the ministry’s Brickdam location, both parties agreed to reconvene in the future to devise a comprehensive plan that will cater to individuals seeking skills training, aligning with the shared priorities of the Ministry and GBC. The George Brown College of Applied Arts and Technology, founded in 1976, is a public, fully accredited college of applied arts and technology with three campuses, offering more than 170 full-time programmes in art and design, business, community services, early childhood education, construction and engineering technologies, health sciences, hospitality and culinary arts, preparatory studies, as well as specialised programmes and services for recent immigrants and international students.