COMPETENCY STANDARDS IN TEN OCCUPATIONAL AREAS DEVELOPED.
Earlier this month, the Minister for Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development, Hon. Dr. Gale Rigobert approved a number of vocational training and certification programs, prescribed by the Saint Lucia Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (SLCTVET).These included locally developed competency standards in the occupational area of Event Production (production assistant) Level 2. According to TVET, this occupational standard was developed by the respective lead Body and validated by the Industry Advisory Committee in preparation for Training and Certification towards the award of a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in the area of Event Production, which will be offered nationally and regionally.
Competency standards in nine other occupational areas as requested by the Department of Education were also developed, with standards validated by the various Industry Advisory Committees. These areas include;
• Building Construction Drafting, Levels 1-3
• Motor Vehicle Engine System, Levels 1-2
• General Construction, Level 3
• Manufacture Sewn Products, Level 2
• Developing a New and Existing Business Enterprise, Level 3
• Health Care Services (Dietary Assistant), Level 1
In signing off on these programs, Hon. Dr. Gale Rigobert congratulated the Saint Lucia Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training and the Department of Education Unit, for developing and launching the new National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) subjects and the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) subjects.
"All of these subjects you may well appreciate are critical areas in which we have long lamented the dearth of expertise," Dr. Rigobert said. "One such example in which capacity has been lacking was that of Events Production. Over the years we have seen Saint Lucia become a major hub for festivals and events, with government making substantial investments with significant benefits to be derived by a number of sectors. With this new program it is our desire that this will now be expanded beyond the artistes, entertainers, sound providers, service providers, vendors and others to event managers to help produce these activities.
"The global pandemic COVID-19 has posed a challenge to not just the health and economy of Saint Lucia but the Education sector as well. However, I believe that amidst the challenges there are always opportunities."
The minister said the TVET programs in “Manufacturing Sewn Products (Level 2)” and “Developing a New and Existing Business Enterprise (Level 3),” were particularly important.
"We have seen the ingenuity of Saint Lucians in creating masks and other apparel as a result of COVID-19 and also creating job opportunities for themselves in other areas. Therefore, it is my hope that our people take advantage of these programs to further enhance their skills and competencies."
Saint Lucia subscribes to the UN SDG No 4, 2015 which advocates for inclusive and equitable quality education, and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. The Government of Saint Lucia and the Department of Education continue to live up to the promise to develop Technical Vocational Education and Training into a multifaceted system of training opportunities for secondary and postsecondary levels that will contribute to raising professional competencies and standards and various programs, linked to gaining real employment.
The Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is understood as comprising education, training and skills development relating to a wide range of occupational fields, production, services and livelihoods.