TVET access expands with new US$1.9M centre in Hopetown

Guyana is advancing towards universal access to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as the Ministry of Education expands its infrastructure to support skills development.

A US$1.9 million Practical Institute was commissioned in Hopetown, Region Five, on Tuesday, bringing the ministry closer to ensuring that citizens gain valuable technical skills. The facility will train 400 students in fields such as commercial food preparation, graphic arts, and plumbing.

The project, funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in collaboration with the Government of Guyana, was initially planned for 2014 but was abandoned by the previous administration. It was revived in 2020 as part of the government’s broader efforts to expand TVET infrastructure.

Education Minister, Priya Manickchand, attributed this accomplishment to the government’s unwavering commitment to improving the lives of Guyanese, particularly the younger generation.

She further highlighted how these initiatives will be beneficial as Guyana experiences rapid development in key sectors, such as the burgeoning oil and gas industry and the expanding construction sector.

“We believe skill is wealth… We have to train our young people to benefit from the oil and gas sector, we have to train our young people to benefit from the construction sector. We have to train our young people,” she said.

With new hotels under construction and the government fulfilling its manifesto promise of distributing 50,000 house lots, the demand for skilled personnel is becoming increasingly critical.

As such, the ministry’s efforts are not only empowering students to become employable members of society but also aiming to bridge gaps in the labour force.

Minister Manickchand emphasised that the ministry’s focus extends beyond Region Four and its surrounding areas to every child in every corner of Guyana.

“But we don’t stop the service in Region Five. Next week or the following week, we go to Region Nine to open a very similar facility—deep in the hinterland, in the forested highland regions—for the children of Region Nine. A few months ago, we opened a very similar facility at Mabaruma in Region One. We opened one a few weeks ago at Fellowship in Region Three. And we have more,” she said.

Continuing its efforts to empower students, the ministry is set to launch a national TVET policy within the next week.

With the commissioning of this new facility, Region Five is now closer to achieving universal access to TVET, adding to its existing milestone of region-wide access to nursery, primary, and secondary education. (DPI)

Students of the centre at work

Another section of the centre