Over 1100 Region 3 youths graduated from BIT since 2020

The Board of Industrial Training (BIT) has made strides in empowering youths across Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), with 1,133 individuals trained and equipped with skills from 2020 to date.
Through its programmes, BIT continues to transform lives by preparing individuals for the demands of the workforce and encouraging them to embrace lifelong learning.
Participants earned certifications in fields such as Welding and Fabrication, Electrical Installation, AC Refrigeration Servicing and Repairs, Joinery, General Building Construction, Tractor Driving, Auto Electrical, and Commercial Food Preparation.
During a recent address at the Leonora Technical Institute, which saw some 40 individuals graduating with certificates in the fields of electrical installation and heavy-duty equipment operation, BIT’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard Maughn emphasised the importance of continuous learning and adaptation in an ever-evolving job market.

The message underscored the value of hands-on experience and practical skills, which not only lead to self-sufficiency but also align with global trends demanding individuals who can work both with their hands and their minds.
“There is nothing beating experience. So, take opportunities for employment and use them wisely. Also, I want to say to you that yes you have acquired skills, you have acquired knowledge, you have done the right thing and demonstrate that demonstrated that you are willing to grow by the simple fact that you have registered and you have completed your course of study, notwithstanding the challenges that you may have faced”
“What you can do for yourself with your hands, you’re able to feed yourself and your family for life with the skills you would have acquired. So, I would say to you, acquire new skills. More and more the world is demanding people with the ability to do things with their hands but along with that you have to develop your ability to reason. Cognitive reasoning is becoming more and more important,” the CEO said.
To further enhance access to education and training, the Government’s Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) Scholarship initiative is offering another round of scholarships for 2024–2025.
BIT graduates are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to expand their qualifications and remain competitive in the job market.
“Right now, the Government of Guyana under the GOAL Scholarship have made further educational opportunities available to you. It is open again for 2024, 2025. Get yourself registered. Do not tell yourself that you have arrived. Get registered and be able to grow yourself a little bit more… So, with those words in mind, I encourage you to press onward, make your trainers proud, make the Board of Industrial Training proud. We will be calling upon you, we will be checking with you to see what you are doing, to see how the training you have done has impacted your life and how it is impacting the lives of people within your circle and your community at large,” he added.
Meanwhile, in interviews with the media, a few of the graduates detailed their experiences and aspirations for the future, including Natasha Niblett who shared “I was doing the course in heavy duty equipment operator. The training experience was a little bit new for me because it’s something that a girl is not accustomed to but it was overall excellent and I am so happy that I was given the opportunity to learn. I had males that encouraged us most of the time and they push us to be beyond what the community set for us”.
Another graduate, Raymond Williams said he plans to start a business utilising his new skill.
“Now that I am certified, I’ll be able to be gainfully employed through the course. As you know operating heavy-duty machinery, the salary is above average minimum wage so I’ll be able to earn and provide for my family better… My intention is to own and operate my own machine,” he said. (G1)