Over 500 prospective students have been given the opportunity to learn a skill under the Construction Gateway Training Initiative.
During her address at the student orientation ceremony at the gymnasium of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex in Wildey, St Michael, this morning, Minister of Education Kay McConney noted the public’s response indicated a high level of interest.
She said they had received 2 174 applications in three weeks, of which 22 per cent of applicants were female, who will all be instructed in 25 different courses over an eight to 12-week period.
The 25 programmes will be offered in four intake periods – May to July; July to September; October to December; and January to March 2023 – at the end of which 3 000 people are expected to be trained.
Additionally, training will be delivered by the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology, Barbados Vocational Training Board, Barbados Community College, and the National Transformation Initiative, as well as the Daryll Jordan Secondary School and St Leonard’s Boys.
However, the minister warned participants that in order to get the relevant qualification, they needed to complete a two-week job attachment where their skill competency will be tested. (RA)
