City & Guilds and Barbados TVET Council Collaboration Lauded

Photo by Charles Pitt of Guy Hewitt (left) and Henderson Eastmond signing the MoU witnessed by Paul Puckerin.

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between City & Guilds and the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council in Barbados has been commended by the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development in Barbados.

Speaking at the 22 March 2013 signing ceremony, Yolande Howard, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development, emphasised that one of the major benefits of this partnership will be the building of capacity within training institutions in Barbados to offer higher-level qualifications in technical and vocational areas.

Noting that up to this point Barbadians have had to pursue such qualifications abroad and at high costs, Mrs Howard stated that “the availability of these qualifications will help to ensure adequate training opportunities exist for educators and trainers in TVET.”

The MoU signed by Henderson Eastmond, Executive Director of the TVET Council and Guy Hewitt, Regional Manager for City & Guilds, focuses on collaboration in areas related to joint research, programme articulation and the delivery of specialist and high-level qualifications.

During the ceremony, Guy Hewitt recognised the contribution of the TVET Council Chairman, Dr. Hensley Sobers in piloting the collaboration between the two agencies and he conveyed the appreciation of City & Guilds to Sen. Dr. the Hon. Esther Byer-Suckoo, Minister of Labour, Social Security and Human Resource Development, for her vision and dedication to skills development.