Chairman of the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI) Coreen Kennedy-Taitt is calling on government to revisit the idea of the University College of Barbados.
She made the appeal last Saturday as she addressed the 1,099 graduates, staff, family and well-wishers at the graduation ceremony of the institution last Saturday at Hilton Barbados.
Mrs. Kennedy-Taitt stressed: “I am passionate about the transformation of our education system. However, most of the discussion has focused on early childhood, primary and secondary education. I note that the transformation document does not specifically speak to tertiary education institutions such as ours.
“Nevertheless, I hope that we will not have long to wait. I think the time has come for us to examine our tertiary-level institutions [and] to revisit the idea of amalgamating the Barbados Community College, Erdiston Teachers’ Training College, and the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology into a single unit; whether it is called the University College of Barbados, or is given some other name,” she stated.
Meanwhile, SJPI Principal Ian Drakes in his remarks, highlighted some of the institution’s accomplishments during the academic year.
- The SJPI obtained candidacy status from the Barbados Accreditation Council.
- The Institution contributed to the Government’s Clean Energy initiative by training individuals to maintain hybrid and electric vehicles. Several technicians from the Sanitation Service Authority were trained in preparation for the arrival of electric garbage trucks.
- Staff and students from the Division of Building Studies attended a series of train-the-trainers’ workshops with Mark Wormsley, a British Historic Building specialist.
- The SJPI added several new Memoranda of Understanding to their portfolio, including the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority, the Government Industrial School, and the Pinelands Creative Workshop.
- They also partnered with the Barbados Canada Association to construct a hurricane-resistant building for the Department of Emergency Management.
- SJPI students won first and second places in the World Skills car painting competition and received a medallion of excellence in the World Skills Franchise. Hollyann Lampkin, the only female participant, won first place in the car painting competition and was commended for her achievement.
- The SJPI added several new memoranda of understanding to their portfolio, including the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority, the Government Industrial School, and the Pinelands Creative Workshop.
- They also partnered with the Barbados Canada Association to construct a hurricane-resistant building for the Department of Emergency Management.
- SJPI students won first and second places in the World Skills car painting competition and received a medallion of excellence in the World Skills Franchise. Hollyann Lampkin, the only female participant, won first place in the car painting competition and was commended for her achievement.
There were also remarks from the National Transformation Initiative’s Assistant Director, Raphael Saul.