Islands’ delegation learns about vocational education

As part of the transition to English as the language of instruction on St. Eustatius, an educational delegation from the Caribbean Netherlands recently paid a two-day visit to the headquarters of National Council Technical Vocational Educational Training (NCTVET) in Kingston, Jamaica. This writes The Daily Herald. The visit was primarily intended to provide a good picture of vocational education in the Caribbean, where Jamaica is a pioneer. A large part of the Jamaican qualification files (descriptions of course contents) has been recognized by the Caribbean Community Caricom, and taken over by the remaining 15 member states.

NCTVET is responsible for the qualification files, curricula and school institutions, and recognition pathways in secondary vocational education. During meetings with vocational specialists, delegates gathered a lot of information about the organization and structure of vocational education, examinations, legislation, competence teachers, NCTVET membership, costs and more.

The programme on Jamaica also included a visit to the Heart College of Construction – a vocational school which offers polytechnic courses and has a close partnership with the national vocational education programme from Brazil SENAI.

Participants stated that the visit was an informative one and the first steps taken to work with regional educational organisations for the vocational education on St. Eustatius and Saba.