TVET Conference Focuses on Skills

The Department of Employment Relations recently (Monday, 2 May) hosted an all-day Technical and Vocational Educational and Training (TVET) conference focusing on the importance of developing fully accredited competency-based training and certification for a wide range of skilled workers in the Cayman Islands.

Minister for Education, Human Resources and Culture the Hon Roy Bodden, Permanent Secretary for Education Mrs Joy Basdeo, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Education Mrs Mary Rodrigues, Director of Employment Relations Mr Walling Whittaker and Assistant Director of Employment Relations Mrs Jennifer Smith were all in attendance at the Westin Hotel venue, along with other ministry officials and invited guests.

"We live in a credential based society that often considers blue collar work demeaning," said Mr Bodden. "We can't dispel these attitudes overnight but the foundations must be laid and TVET qualifications will provide certification of workforce skills in a practical and achievable way. However to be successful, the programme must be supported by the wider community, the public and private sectors."

TVET qualifications range from Level 1 (semi-skilled) to Level 5 (advanced professional). Certification clarifies employees' skills, providing employers with a seal of approval and better access to a trained and flexible workforce, leading to higher levels of productivity. Skills acquired through TVET programmes will meet national occupational standards.

Local and guest speakers from the National Training Agency (NTA) in Trinidad and Tobago and the National Council of Technical and Vocational Educational Training (NCTVET) in Jamaica made presentations addressing the labour market situation in the Cayman Islands.

Director of Employment Relations Mr Walling Whittaker discussed training as it is addressed in the new Education and Training Law for Cayman; Mr Fazal Karim (NTA Trinidad and Tobago) spoke on the role of the NTA and workforce development; Mrs Paulette Dunn-Smith (NCTVET) covered developing and introducing a national system of competency-based training and strategies for non-traditional assessment; Mr Ronald Phillip's (NTA Trinidad and Tobago) topic was developing labour market information and its implication for TVET; and Mr Will Pineau from the Chamber of Commerce discussed training developments in the Cayman Islands.

"It is encouraging that the event was attended by such a wide range of people, across all industries in Cayman, interested in the development of a recognised quality workforce," said Assistant Director of Employment Relations, Mrs. Jennifer Smith. "By standardising a national system of competency and work-based training, TVET qualifications will become accepted not just in Cayman but across the entire CARICOM region and beyond," she concluded.