Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer

Hope Sangster (left), council secretary and manager of the National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training, speaks with participants during a 'Breakout' session at a quality and standards certification seminar held at the Half Moon Conference Centre in Montego Bay on Tuesday. From second left are Georgianna Fenton, a human resource assistant; Ann-Marie Lewin, a chief operations officer and Shona Heron, human resource development consultant. - Photo by Noel Thompson

WESTERN BUREAU:

The National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NCTVET) has embarked on an islandwide drive to better sensitise business operators and individuals on how to get themselves certified in their respective fields.

"We are just trying to enrich the workforce through standards and certification and we have brought the best we can find from the priority sectors so that they can identify with some of the people who really need help in directing their lives and in helping them to know what type of competencies they need for the different sectors," said Hope Sangster, council secretary and manager of NCTVET.

Quality management

The NCTVET is the quality management department of the HEART Trust/NTA.

With the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) to come on stream, NCTVET is carving out its niche, and is currently recognised by UNESCO and other internationally recognised bodies.

The NCTVET was recently certified by the International Standards Organisation (ISO).

"Once individuals have a skill, they should get certified because that is key," Mrs. Sangster said. "Now that the CSME is coming on stream, certified persons will be able to travel across the region and work as the NCTVET certification is recognised regionally and elsewhere. The NCTVET is geared to go the extra mile to get people certified."

The first such seminar was held at the Half Moon Conference Centre in Montego Bay, St. James, earlier this week. The seminars are aimed at enhancing a quality workforce through standards and certification.