The Ministry of Labour will move a step closer towards meeting the goals laid out in the Human Resource Development (HRD) Strategy, through its participation in the Guidance Counsellors??? 9th Annual Career Showcase next week.

Senior Economist with the Ministry of Labour, Erika Watson, explained that the decision was taken to co-sponsor the event as its purpose was directly related to the Strategy???s objectives.

???A major component within the Human Resource Strategy is to enhance career guidance and counselling??? It falls within promoting a demand-driven education and training system. After we identify what skills are needed in the job market, we see career guidance and counselling as the best way of communicating that information to students. So, this event is a great opportunity for us to highlight the plans for the Strategy,??? she said.

The Ministry???s booth will feature three of its satellite agencies ??? the National Employment Bureau, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Council and the Barbados Vocational Training Board, with representatives on site to offer information relevant to their training programmes and support services.

While the HRD Strategy is a multi-dimensional document which seeks to develop national, institutional and human capacity, Ms. Watson observed that ???young persons would be most interested in the development of the demand-driven education and training system, whereby strengthening the programmes and the institutions involved???, so that they would be better equipped for the job market when they graduate.

She said it would also inform educational institutions about what skills the labour force needs, so that they could either improve their programmes or introduce new programmes for some new, emerging opportunities in the labour market.

Ms. Watson also noted that the Strategy makes provision for the development of entrepreneurship in the country.

???Another major component of the Strategy speaks to entrepreneurship and I think that young persons would definitely be interested in what the document hopes to bring, which is better coordination in terms of agencies that are supporting businesses, as they develop more support financially and also in terms of technical advice on how to start a business,??? she explained.

The Career Showcase will take place at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre on Wednesday, February 12, and Thursday, February 13.

nekaelia.hutchinson@barbados.gov.bb

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