121 more KKTC students complete skills training - as 12th batch graduates
Georgetown, GINA, July13, 2012 -- Source - GINA
Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) Registrar, Dr. Didacus Jule; Assistant Director of Youth, Devanand Ramdatt; Permanent Secretary to the Ministry, Alfred King; Kuru Kuru Training Centre (KKTC) Administrator Shabbir Ali and, Senior Training Officer, Dennis Gillis and the 2012 batch of graduates
Drawn from the 10 Administrative Regions of Guyana, 121 youths who began a new phase in their lives 10 months ago, graduated from the Youth Entrepreneurial Skills Training (YEST) programme at the Kuru Kuru training Centre (KKTC), Soesdyke/Linden Highway on Friday.
They will now join the 1,506 others who have passed through the centre since the establishment of the YEST programme.
Technical, vocational, entrepreneurial and life skills training are conducted in a disciplined environment for personal and national development.
Assistant Director of Youth, Devanand Ramdatt addressing graduating students of the Kuru Kuru Training Centre
“We see our young people, as assets to be developed and not problems to be solved; this is our primary reason that our team, the YEST family continue to dedicate our efforts towards the enhancements of all the centres order to support a conducive environment for learning and socializing,” Assistant Director of Youth, Devanand Ramdatt said during his address.
He also stated that the emphasis is not only on the material aspect, but recognition for human development is vital, and students are given utmost priority. YEST programmes are constantly reviewed so as to build young minds.
Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Registrar, Dr. Didacus Jules delivering the feature address at the Kuru Kuru Training Centre
Ramdatt also highlighted that while the formal school system produces more female graduates, YEST reflects the opposite with more male students who would have left secondary school and are equipped in various skills areas such as; Business Studies, Carpentry, Electrical Engineering, Garment Construction, Motor Mechanic, Furniture making, Plumbing and Sheet metal, Welding, Fabrication, Masonry and Joinery.
He also said that the students were involved in community development, providing needed support in donation and maintenance works at the Uncle Eddie’s home and for the elderly within the Kuru Kuru neighbourhood.
Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Registrar, Dr. Didacus Jules hands over certificate to Alicia Madas
They were also given an opportunity to be part of a democratic process while managing and developing the centre.
More students were exposed to work attachment training at several agencies, both in the private and public sectors, and some have already secured employment.
Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Registrar, Dr. Didacus Jules during his address stated that in today’s world technical, vocational and skills training are becoming increasingly important and, CXC is looking at ways in which it can help to provide the type of certification that can take persons from where they are to where they want to go.
Assistant Director of Youth , Devanand Ramdatt hands over certificate to Delroy Cupidore
“CXC is no longer focusing on secondary education, we are looking at ways to ensure that every person in the Caribbean, whether in or out of school has opportunities that will allow them to pursue and realise their life’s ambition,” Dr. Jules said.
He also stated that CXC will work with the Minister of Culture Youth and Sport to ensure that all the courses the students would have done would be certified under the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ).
Dr. Jules also encouraged the students to remain focused and pursue their dreams in order to become not just better citizens, but competitive ones.
KKTC has undergone transformation in several areas over the past five years. When there was no electricity from the national grid, the centre now possesses a generator which provides two hours of electricity to students at night to complete their homework. Water was procured from a creek located at the back of the Centre, and today there is a well which stores artesian water.
The buildings that are currently in use were abandoned and in a serious state of disrepair, however, with the help of UNDP, Food For the Poor and other partners the buildings were restored and two new classrooms were constructed.
Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) Registrar, Dr. Didacus Jules hands over trophy to Best graduating student Tyson McNaughton
In 2011, the KKTC graduated 236 students with Ronessa Roland, from Region 7 who studied joinery, copping the Best Graduating Student.
The YEST programme is also done at the Ministry’s Sophia centre, but on a non residential basis.
