In order to enhance the technical skills of students the Ministry of Education will be implementing the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) programme in all government high schools this academic term.
“This programme seeks to ensure that students receive technical skill development in various areas and that they are more prepared to face the regional and global work market,” Minister of Education Petter St. Jean said. “In other words, on completion of high school these young people can be more marketable and ready for the job market by giving them a competitive advantage and being able to meet up with their Caribbean counterparts.”
Saint Jean explained that the introduction of the CVQ’s at secondary schools is in keeping with his Ministry’s vision of making technical education an important part of the school’s Curriculum.
CVQ is based on a competency based approach to training, assessment and certification. Students are expected to demonstrate competence in attaining occupational standards developed by practitioners, industry experts and employers.
It prepares students for employment and provides an alternative route to further or higher education.
CVQ is recognized in CARICOM and the rest of the world and will ensure that students are able to perform in the workplace. The implementation of the CVQ forms part of the Ministry of Education’s enhancement project.
Government has taken a loan from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to fund the CVQ programs.
Where is the ‘love it’ button…
I have been an excellent student academically and still am…I attended CHS, DSC and furthered my education abroad.
But when I became independent, there were very many basic skills I did not have and wished I had.
Also when I started on the workfield, all my education did not help me be any better at what I was doing…
I had to do on the job training to acquire skills to be as competent as all else…I did become the best employee at my job but that was because of self determination.
So I guess I am saying, learning technical skills at school will be very beneficial, esp if the skills you are learning has something to do with the specific field you intend on going into…Or if they are skills that will help with overall self help and growth
I still say that the teachers need to be trained to deliver this programme, as it is not like CXC
Nice Job>>Government>>i didn’t vote all u but that is a good move..anybody that is negative put a “thumbs down” so you can all Mark ur IGNorance.>>any skilled learned is good…
Big deal. Do we have trained technical teachers? Wasn’t there a Technical Wing at D.G.S.?Is this just a show? Having a ttained a Technical education overseas and in the employment of a Dominican government department. I was once fired because it was said I was over qualified. After the union CSA intervened I got back my job. It was tough.Some years later I left. Since then I have continued to work in a tevhnical field. Dominica has consistently under utilize it’s technical people. I hope this is a step forward.
This is great, in this technological era there is always a need for highly skilled personal. There’s still a stigma among our people that if you’re not wearing long sleeves and a tie you’re nobody it’s time we come to our senses. Who will fix the air condition when it goes bad at the bank,who will repair the medical equipment when it fails at the hospital. Great news let’s get it going.
To all those who are screaming «bring back the technical vocational program» of the early years, i think you should first inform yourself of the purpose of that programme and how it operated before you actually jump screaming for its return.
Reading and writing competency might be in order first!
get real – yes this is best but you do realise that not everyone can really do that.
There are lot of trained technical people who are not capable of reading and writing but commonsense and practise get them to be outstanding at their jobs.
We need to encourage these things but the reality is…there’l; be uneducated folks and their way out is the technical skills.
And yes, it today’s world – education is the key…but look at some of our forefathers who couldn’t read and right but for the technical skills they can earn a living.
let the government teach them to “fish” so they can feed themselves
@ Dave Thomas…. You do not necessarily have to learn to read and write to know a skill..
Though reading and writing is important…there are many people who have degrees and are very incompetent at their jobs…
Skill learning is very beneficial…
A person who did not have the chance to further their education, but has a skill they can do very well…they can still secure employment or start a business and be successful in bringing bread to their family’s table…
I say…go for it
what else can be said, two thumbs UP
And is now the children will steal the tools and sell it and then parents and teacher will strike and say government not doing there work.
Ok now that has been said let’s see how long it will take the govt. to put the necessary resources in place to actually get the wheels rolling! I am almost certain that while the decision was taken and a hundred documents signed to ratify it, that no equipment has been purchased or staff hired (other that those in existing programs of course) to execute the process! Still its a step in the right direction.
you are almost certain? yet you speak with so much conviction, but you are only almost certain.
tsk tsk
Almost sounds like the operative word….
politics again they remove now they want to take credit for putting it back, when they should have never removed in in the first place. i am not gonna give any credit to you all, but thank you for placing it back in the schools.
Our schools NEVER had CVQs. Stop the ignorance!!
This is a good move. It would just be great if our leaders, instead of stopping a good thing, because the rest of the world is doing it, would keep that which is working for us and and adopt things that will improve. An example is the universal education. It has reduced the motivation of the young students. The Junior Secondary program should be reinstated and at the end of the period, those who are late academic bloomers would get a chance to rejoin their classmates in academic programs and those who are technical would still go to secondary school to continue their technical training. This would remove the frustration of trying to cope with the secondary school work when one is not ready for it, and also the slowing down of those who are ready to push on. Universal entry should be for the Junior Secondary program, not the regular High School.
What was wrong with the Junior Secondary program really? I have not spoken to one teacher who could tell me, and none of those I have spoken to are in favor of the universal secondary education. They are all in favor of the Junior Sec being reinstated.
JSP..for all intended purposes was a waste of time..I know trust me from experience.. In school either u are tecnical or academic that is it.>most children that were in JSP are not stupid they are just slow in academic areas..suprise to see they are the best at technical thing..so we back to where we started.> Let them learn there skill..
Was time
Thumbs up!
Politicians are really interesting. I must ask Mr St Jean if this is a response to criticism because all along people have been saying that this universal education system that we have in Dominica is a failure to soceity and our students. So before St Jean and his clowns try to fool us with the idea that they are the trail blazers let it be known that in the 80’s and early 90’s we had a strong technical vocational program we called TECHVOC. I remember students doing CXC exams in various technical courses. In fact it was the very same technical program that helped the productive sector of our economy.
Although the element of arrogance is quite evident I am happy that the government is going BACK to making technical vocation an integral part of the education sytem.There is nothing wrong with admitting fault or error. We are all human. It only becomes disgusting and annoying when grown men and women are to proud to openly acknowledge or admit their mistakes.
Well pointed out. The government has admitted it was wrong to do away with the Junior Secondary Programme.
At least now our young people will have a fair chance.
I agree can you remember that the college had 2 sides the technical and accademical?
While I think that the merge is good. I wonder if the technical side has been swallowed up by all the academics.
There was TechVoc and now there is CVQ…CARIBBEAN VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATION. Yet so far you have received 11 likes for your bit of mis-information.
The Min.of Edu apparently cannot catch a break with you naysayers!
Sir I respect your comment but we should not dwell on mistakes done..we should just move on..wateva the reason they bring back this technical programmed it was needed an now it is done..now u talking about wat we had in the 80s and 90s. just be happy bro..ur son might learn to be good mechanic or service tech..
Well done, Hon. St. Jean! Good going, guys.
ppl let us ask mr st. jean where are the necessary tools that should and must accompany this CVQ program for it to be a success…. are the students going to practice auto mechanice, electricity, woodwork and the rest of these technical subject areas on book and paper. Once again i will repeat this man and his mates are a bunch of wicked ppl. they know well that the teachers in the respected schools need tools and instruments in order to complete this task if they are not provided this is an IMPOSSIBLE task so st. jean i know u did NOT fool me with ya rubbish!!!!!
YOU to SORT,what you think they taking the loan to do, to buy you a safari SORT. Some black people need to read and understand before they talk.
A step in the right direction
i say it a very good move to do that the more they know it more better for them A PLUS