Government is committed to helping young people realise their potential through secondary and tertiary education and training.
This assurance has come from Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, who said several pieces of legislation had already been taken to Parliament to facilitate this and he identified them as the Human Resource Development Strategy 2011 ??? 2016, the National Youth Policy of 2012 and the recently passed Cultural Industries Development Bill.
Mr. Stuart made the comments recently while delivering the feature address at the Princess Margaret Secondary School???s Speech Day and Prize-Giving Ceremony at the St. Philip-based institution.
He explained that the aim of the Human Resource Development Strategy was to increase the number of secondary and tertiary level students with the appropriate knowledge, skills and competencies to equip them for their successful entry into the job market or for the active pursuit of opportunities for self-employment.
Turning his attention to the National Youth Policy, Mr. Stuart noted the number one need of young people was identified as decent employment.
???It was agreed that the best way to address this problem during the economic downturn was to train and motivate young people to become more enterprising in an effort to create employment and wealth. We also need to encourage creativity and innovation and sharpen the ability of our youth to apply science and technology to all aspects of our life,??? he suggested.
The Prime Minister added that the Cultural Industries Development Bill promises to provide the recognition, training and support for artistes to develop their creative talents and assist them in earning a decent living. ???NIFCA, too has become an incubator for the development of talents that can then be commercially developed,??? he stated.
sharon.austingill-moore@barbados.gov.bb