Government???s successful implementation of the Skills For The Future Programme thus far, has been lauded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Country Representative of the IDB, Joel Branski, yesterday showered praise on both the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, and the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development, as he addressed a ceremony to announce winners of the third round of funding from the Competency-Based Training Fund (CBTF) at the Sea Breeze Hotel.

Mr. Branski, while noting that the Skills For The Future loan represented a landmark in the extraordinary partnership between the IDB and Barbados, highlighted results which spoke to Government???s achievements since the project???s inception in 2013.

Referring to the A Ganar Programme, which is being implemented with Partners of the Americas, he noted that this aimed to teach life skills and core skills, through sports, to at risk students in secondary and post-secondary TVET institutions. Of its success, he said: ???To date, 11 institutions have participated in the A Ganar Programme and 392 participants have been registered.???

In respect of the Schools Improvement Grants programme, valued at US $180,000, he reminded those gathered that this was serving to complement the training provided at the beneficiary secondary schools in the fields of Mathematics, English and Science.

Turning his attention to the achievements of the CBTF, the IDB Representative emphasised that the Fund was ???established to improve the alignment between the supply of training and the market demand of the private sector???.

Declaring that it was worth celebrating, Mr. Branski highlighted the success of the three cycles of the CBFT in disbursing the over US $6 million.??Commending both Ministries for the continued success in the execution of the CBTF of the Skills For the Future Programme, he stressed that the IDB looked forward to working with them as they sought ???to improve lives through education and training in Barbados???.

The Skills For The Future Project supports Government???s Human Resource Development Strategy (2011-1016) by improving the skills of the workforce in preparation for the nation???s future challenges. The comprehensive programme, which is being funded by the IDB at a value of US $20 million, focuses on improving the quality and relevance of secondary education, as well as the effectiveness of technical and vocational education.

joy-ann.gill@barbados.gov.bb

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