Government works to improve quality of TVET

Education Specialist Dr. Lucy Steward

Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 25, 2013 (SKNIS): Improving the quality of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in St. Kitts and Nevis was one of the key areas of discussion during policy review workshops held between February 11-22.

UNESCO representatives, Education Specialist Dr. Lucy Steward, Labour Market Specialist Kevin Cain and Programme Specialist Keith Holmes, who assisted in the reviewing, drafting and finalising the national policy for TVET, noted that by enhancing the quality of TVET the Government’s goal of developing the skills and qualifications of persons in the Federation would be met.

Dr. Stewart, who focused on Education and Policy Development within the context of National and Regional Development, explains.

“If we want to look at TVET for development, we have to look at the quality of programmes that lead to certification,” she stated. “One of the things in the whole policy review and improving the status of TVET we would have to look at is how portable these qualifications are and how they can be improved and enhanced, so that in terms of certification we are looking at the quality.”

The team met with stakeholders from the private and public sector, teachers, students and heads of schools in both St. Kitts and Nevis to discuss the prospects of improving the quality of school facilities and improving the quality of teachers at the Technical and Vocational Division at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC).

“Somebody may come for the industry to teach a technical subject but they may not have teacher training and therefore [we need to find out] what kind of opportunities are available to improve the quality there,” Dr. Stewart noted.