With this in mind, the government has secured a $20 million loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to launch an intensive interactive forum, aimed at dramatically improving technical and vocational training in this country.
This comes in response to the increasing demand from prospective investors for skilled Bahamians in the hospitality industry.
ZNS News reporter Charlene Ferguson has more now on the plan, and the doubt expressed by some members of the local business community.
With Prime Minister the Right Hon. Perry Christie set to announce a $300 million to $400 million investment in Abaco within days, Mr. Christie said he is reminded constantly by investors that they are unable to find the qualified Bahamian workers they need in construction, and vocational fields.
But the programmes for training masons, electricians and tile layers are either non-existent or extremely limited.
That’s where the public and private partnership forum comes in. It is based on a successful initiative in Bermuda, and driven by consultants with the international education collaborative foundation. They advocate the inclusion of technology in education and, over the next few months, will draft a comprehensive national programme designed to recommend ways to update this country’s technical and vocational training programmes.
It is hoped this will increase The Bahamasﾴ global competitiveness.
Minister of Education, the Hon Alfred Sears acknowledged the work to be done.
That programme is expected to be completed with the help of about 70 community stake holders, including public and private sector businesses, the church, and labour organizations.
Bahamas Chamber of Commerce executive director, Philip Simon said they have already garnered feedback from dozens of business persons. He said itﾴs not good.
For Prime Minister Christie, the input of community stakeholders will be key.
At the end of the exercise, Prime Minister Christie said the government will not simply be left with recommendations taking up space on a shelf. He said the government intends to follow through with a national programme, whose success will be measured by how better prepared Bahamians are to take advantage of the many multi-million dollar investments coming this way.
Clunis Devaney, ZNS Staff Writer
