Stakeholders and other participants in the recently-held Technical & Vocational Education & Training (TVET) Consultation have been told that the Ministry is in the midst of developing a policy to focus its attention and energies in the right direction.
The statement was made by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mrs. Chanelle Petty-Barrett. Addressing the Stakeholder Consultation at the Teachers’ Resource Centre on March 15, largely attended by employers in various fields in the job market, she said the policy would be “based on the feedback that we get from you, in terms of what are the needs of the various industries, professions, trades, occupations and organisations represented here and in the wider community.”
Mrs. Petty-Barrett continued: “It is important that any education system meets the needs of the community that it is supposed to serve. We thought it was very important to hear from you exactly what it is that we need to provide in order to assist your particular organizations to grow and develop, and by extension the wider labour market here in Anguilla.”
The Permanent Secretary delivered an address on behalf of the Minister of Education, Edison Baird, who was unavoidably absent. Mr. Baird made the point that in order to develop an effective policy, there must be an effective and meaningful policy development process.
“Such a process involves situational analysis, building policies with stakeholders, analysis and identification of policy issues, research and extensive collaboration,” Mr. Baird was quoted as saying. “The same is true for the development of an effective, Technical &Vocational Education& Training or TVET policy.
“It is because TVET is so critical to many sectors, that we have decided that our policy development process must involve the engagement of our key stakeholders. It is our hope that through our deliberations you will get a better understanding about TVET, begin to dispel the myths of TVET; start thinking about how TVET impacts on you individually and the organisations which you represent, and the role that you can play…”
Chairman of the Consultation, Rawle Hazell, a member of the TVET Advisory Council, introduced the first presenter, Mrs. Janice McKeag Richardson, TVET Coordinator inAnguilla. Her presentation was an overview of TVET inAnguilla. “It is very important to realise that when we often think of TVET, we don’t think about skilled acquisition,” she stated. “We don’t think about the knowledge that you should have to support those skills, and the attitude you have to have to be able to be a good worker. In fact, one of the papers that were presented was that employers would rather have somebody who is honest than somebody who is highly trained. This is because if they have the basics and a good work ethic, they can be trained. So it is really important to include that attitude within the development.
“TVET is a combination of players. Not only do we have the Educational and Training Institutes which can include work places. It’s not just schools, universities, community colleges, but any training institute; and that can include on-the-job-training. We have the world of work with employers and all the other things that go with it. We have the Government which is really in charge of looking at the accreditation and policy, which we are here for; the accreditation is very important and we have the learners. Without them, we are not going to have anybody to work with. All of that gives us a well-trained and qualified workforce.”
Labour Commissioner, Russell Reid’s presentation was on theAnguillalabour situation. It included a synopsis of the current and future labour market; an overview of the Department of Labour; current Labour Laws; and work permits granted. Mr. Reid noted that during the past three years, especially during the boom years of 2007 and 2008, carpenters, masons, labourers, mechanics, maintenance workers, truck drivers, heavy equipment operators, roofers, tilers, electricians and technicianswere the main recipients of work permits. Since last year, however, there has been a sizeable reduction in the number of work permit holders.
The Labour Commissioner observed that there was increased tension and frustration in the workplace. He said: “Some employees complain about sexual harassment mainly by managers and these complaints are hard to deal with; employees complain about unfair dismissal, non-payment of Social Security funds; some complain about being victimised by employers; some do not give vacation pay, according to law… and some employees complain about lack of respect and lack communication by their managers and employers. That’s one side.
“The next side includes complaints by employers about lack of respect for authority, lateness at work by employees with some staying at home; inappropriate dress (boys with pants below their buttocks and girls with short skirts); and other serious concerns including poor work ethics, a big issue on the island; most persons do not give a fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay; low productivity, abuse of sick leave and this is a serious concern because it is the doctors who are giving the sick leave.”
Mr. Reid said that despite all the negatives, there was some hope. “We may see things recovering by mid-2013,” he added. “If we get the Jumeirah project going, the Flag project re-started, and Malliouhana Hotel sold and refurbished, we can see some light at the end of the tunnel.
“We feel that employers will be quick to hire persons with these soft skills: team player, good work ethics; willingness to learn; good interpersonal skills; respect for authority; critical thinking, analytical skills; and good communication skills.”
The Consultation, the second of its kind in Anguilla, held by the Ministry of Education, continued late into the evening with a forecasting of future skills needs and areas for further probing; an examination of the expectations of stakeholders regarding a TVET Policy for Anguilla; and the role and responsibility of business organisations in TVET development.
It is hoped that the various suggestions and views expressed at the Stakeholder Consultation will assist in the shaping of a very robust TVET Policy forAnguilla.
