Competency Based Training Fund Workshops Begin This Month

Steps to create a demand-driven, trained workforce will begin later this month, when the US$ 6.5 million Competency Based Training Fund (CBTF) launches its awareness programme.

The CBTF will first host a series of Information Workshops, which will be held from Monday, March 31 to Thursday, April 3, at the Accra Beach Hotel and Spa, Worthing, Christ Church.

Employers and training providers are encouraged to register by Friday, March 28, for one of the half day workshops, which will highlight the benefits of, and who is eligible for, the CBTF.

Following this, there will be a call for proposals from entities that wish to access the Fund, with the submission deadline set for Friday, May 23. Proposals must be made by a partnership of at least one employer and a training provider.

The intended training must be based on standards which are: already included in the National Vocational Qualification or Caribbean Vocational Qualification registered in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council; or from a recognised international certification awarding entity; or yet to be developed and validated under the proposal. In addition, the training must lead to an occupational competency based certification by a recognised awarding body.

Interested partnerships will be required to submit a proposal which features: a short diagnosis of the key skill-related issues for which technical assistance is being requested; the overall objective to be achieved at the completion of the proposal; a detailed list of all planned activities; institutional implementation arrangements; a calculation of a realistic budget for the cost of each activity; and a draft quarterly implementation schedule indicating the project???s start and completion.

The CBTF, part of the Skills for the Future Programme and funded by the Inter- American Development Bank, seeks to support a better alignment of the supply of training with market demand and will distribute funds over three years, with the partnerships to be awarded funding to implement 2-year competency-based training programmes.

To register for the workshops and for additional information persons may contact the CBTF at 227-9093 or visit the website, www.cbtf.com.bb.??

Comm. Dev. Department Offers Free Computer Classes

Persons interested in improving their computer skills will have the opportunity to do so, when the Community Technology Programme (CTP) begins on Tuesday, April 22.

Hosted by the Community Development Department, the CTP features 10 weeks of free training in Microsoft Office 2010.
The Level 1, Beginners Class focuses on: Introduction to Computers; Introduction to Email; Introduction to Internet; Introduction to XP; and Introduction to Microsoft Word 2010 classes.

In Level 2, Advance Classes, participants will learn more about Word and PowerPoint 2010, Excel and Publisher 2010, Access 2010 and Outlook and Internet.

The participating resource centres in St. Michael are: Bush Hall (427-7278); Bonnetts (435-2427); Deacons (421-8425); Grazettes (425-1183); Haggatt Hall (436-6839); and the newly refurbished Parkinson Community Centre, the Pine (426-4331).??In St. George, the Drax Hall (228-2893), Valley (437-0621) and Greens (271-4168) centres will offer the programme.

Participating resource centres in Christ Church are St. Christopher (420-7771) and Briar Hall (430-1421); while the CTP will be offered in St. Peter at the Speightstown (422-1940) and Black Bess (422-1250) centres.??Centres at Weston, St. James (422-5630), St. Elizabeth, St. Joseph (433-9903); and Rices (271-2548) and St. Marks (423-7342) in St. Philip will also offer CTP classes.

Interested persons should register at the appropriate resource centre by Thursday, April 17.??

Constituency Councils To Meet Next Week

Constituency Councils will continue the series of meetings across the island next week and members of the constituencies are encouraged to attend.

Residents of Christ Church East will have their turn on Monday, March 24, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Christopher???s Primary School. The St. Thomas Council will host its meeting on Wednesday, March 26, at 7:00 p.m. at the Lester Vaughn School.

The meetings will continue on Thursday, March 27 at 6:00 p.m., with St. Michael Central at Combermere School in Waterford; while that of St. Michael North will take place, also on Thursday, at 7:00 p.m., at the Soroptimist Village, Eden Lodge.

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