Renewed technical and vocational focus for secondary schools

JIS:The Minister of Education, Ronald Thwaites, has stated that secondary-school students are to sit at least one technical or vocational subject at the end of fifth form. This as the Ministry of Education (MOE) advances work to infuse Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) into the secondary-school curriculum.

The minister was speaking at a reception hosted by him to mark the official launch of the 23rd general meeting of the Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies (CANTA).

In his address to CANTA representatives and guests, Thwaites stated that the MOE is now engaged in a policy thrust to infuse TVET univer-sally into the secondary-school curriculum, as well as to establish post-secondary TVET institutes and workforce colleges. The minister noted that TVET infusion in schools is expected to produce more educationally rounded graduates possessing skills suitable for the labour market.

He stated, "The initial goal, which will increase over time, is for school students to sit at least one technical or voca-tional subject in an external examination at the end of fifth form."

policy complete

Earlier in the day, Grace McLean, chief education officer who represented the permanent secretary at the opening session of the meeting, announced that the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training Policy is now com-pleted. It is expected that the policy will advance work already in progress to integrate TVET into the secondary schools.

Jamaica was host to the 23rd general meeting of CANTA from April 3 to 4. The meeting was hosted at the Cardiff Hotel and Spa, the training hotel of the recently launched HEART College of Hospitality Services in Runaway Bay.