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Jun 21, 2014 News
After plugging the lion’s share in terms of funding into a Technical, Vocational Education and
Training (TVET) project, which was implemented a few years ago, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) is currently undertaking a process of evaluation as the project deadline nears.
Moreover, CDB officials yesterday convened an ‘Enhancement of Technical and Vocational Education and Training Exit Workshop’ for the Ministry of Education. Venued at the Hadfield Street, Georgetown, Regency Hotel, the forum was attended by a modest gathering of education officials and members of the private sector.
Speaking at the forum was CDB’s Dr. Idamay Denny, who disclosed that the project was one designed to assist Government in expanding access to, and enhancing the quality and effectiveness of TVET.
Recapping the genesis of the project, Dr. Denny disclosed that the Board of Directors of CDB, on December 2008, approved a loan of US$7.5 million for the implementation of the project, a sum that was matched by US$2.1 million from Government allowing for the project to secure a total sum of US$9.6 million.
The terminal disbursement date for the project is December 31st, 2014, and according to the CDB official, “we need to evaluate how well the project has assisted Government in achieving the objectives it set at the outset.”
“We need to critically evaluate the originally stated objectives and whether they have contributed to the expected outcomes; we need also to identify the strategies and methodologies which were successful in order that we can apply them to other interventions in the future,” Dr. Denny asserted.
Added to this, she said that it is necessary for the CDB to determine the actions that contributed to the meeting of the goals, the achievements of the resulting outputs and impact and sustainability of the outcomes. Understandably too, she spoke of the need to identify the challenges and pitfalls in order to avoid them in the future. “Examination of these issues is the primary purpose for this Exit Workshop…by the end of the day, based on the feedback we receive from you, we expect to have a good perspective of issues around the design and implementation of this project and the lessons which have been or which can be learned in order to enhance the design and implementation of future projects in both Guyana as well as across the Region,” said Dr. Denny.
In highlighting her conviction that “we can only improve, if we have accurate and constructive feedback, Dr. Denny yesterday urged the gathering to participate “very frankly. Nobody is going to be offended if you say something that can be misconstrued as negative because in the final analysis it will help us to do positive things in the future.”
According to Assistant Chief Education Officer (ACEO) (Technical), Patrick Chinedu Onwuzirike, the project which has had some revolutionary impact must be regarded as a “game changer for the education system in Guyana, particularly for the TVET system, and work force development for the 21st Century Guyana Labour Force.”
The project, according to the ACEO, allowed for the construction and furnishing of two new TVET facilities, in Regions Three and Five; the provision of equipment and learning materials, teachers training and the development of an appropriate TVET instructional framework and maintenance plan for TVET institutions.
According to him the intent of the project was to produce significant social and economic benefits with an initial target of 400 students from the Regions Three and Five institutions, being able to access TVET courses and therefore have an opportunity to acquire skills to improve their employability.
Currently the institution in Region Five alone has a student population that is close to achieving the total target.
And according to Onwuzirike, the results achieved have positioned Guyana to be considered for a second phase of the TVET project.
Chairperson of the forum yesterday was Ms Delma Nedd, Permanent Secretary of the Education Ministry, who told those in attendance “your presence here today is an indication of your desire to partner with the Ministry of Education in its mandate to provide our youth with the requisite life skills for the world of work.”
According to her, the project has been a very timely and appropriate response in meeting the demands of new work patterns evolving from purely industrial to being more knowledge based, high technology and service oriented.
“Today I am looking forward for fruitful and productive deliberations throughout our activities…”I look forward for quite interactive group discussions,” said Nedd as she highlighted that “we are at a strategic point where this project comes to an end.”
As such she noted that the forum was an opportune time “for us to review this project and we still have a few more months to make whatever necessary adjustments we can make all towards the betterment of our young people.”
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