In a bid to strengthen its competency-based approach to training, assessment and certification, the Technical and Vocational Education Training Council (TVET) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with two major local training institutions.
The signing ceremony took place last Friday at the Hilton Hotel, with Chairman, Dr. George Callender initialling on behalf of the Barbados Vocational Training Board (BVTB), his counterpart Desmond Browne, signing for the Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic (SJPP) and Dr. Hensley Sobers inking the document for the TVET Council.
The Barbados Community College is expected to sign the MOU at a later date.
The TVET Council is the local award body for two forms of competency-based measures, the National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and its regional equivalent, the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ).
The NVQs and CVQs certify that individuals have met the standards of competence for a particular occupational area, whether it is management, customer service, information technology, electrical installation or carpentry, to name a few. The BVTB and the SJPP are currently working to deliver NVQs and CVQs.
TVET Executive Director, Trevor King, explained that the purpose of the MOU would be to establish and expand cooperation between the TVET Council and the two training institutions.
He added that such collaboration would augur well for the human resource development needs of Barbados.
"With competence-based TVET and certification such as NVQs and CVQs, not only will employers gain, but so too will workers, as there will now be tangible proof of
their ability to meet the standards of effective performance, as specified by the key employers and trainers within industry," Mr. King maintained.
Dr. Sobers added that the signing represented a major leap forward for competency-based education and training in Barbados.
He too extolled the benefits of both NVQs and CVQs, noting the potential for increased productivity in the job market.
"Workers can gain added self-esteem and the opportunity to effectively plan their career. For employers, NVQ/CVQ status offers a better guarantee of a job candidate’s capability and can influence improved worker performance, involvement and commitment," Dr. Sobers said. askeete@barbados.gov.bb