By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |
LILIENDAAL, GREATER GEORGETOWN — The Ministry of Education officially launched the 2026 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Fair on Tuesday at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC), emphasizing practical technical skills as an essential mechanism for transitioning secondary school students into well-paying industrial, technological, and engineering careers.
Convened under the theme “From Classroom to Career: TVET in Action,” the fair brought together technical institutes, Practical Instruction Centres (PICs), secondary schools, and trade academies from across Guyana to demonstrate hands-on competencies matching the demands of the nation’s rapidly modernizing economy.
Every Administrative Region to House a TVET Centre by End of 2026
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Education Sonia Parag outlined the government’s aggressive capital rollout to decentralize vocational learning, announcing that access to technical education will soon span every geographic jurisdiction:
- Complete Geographic Coverage: Every administrative region across Guyana is slated to have a dedicated, fully equipped TVET centre by the close of 2026.
- Expanding Practical Instruction: The state is expanding partnerships to bring technical training directly into rural and riverine communities through upgraded Practical Instruction Centres and modern secondary school workshops.
- Surge in Examination Uptake: Highlighting measurable progress within the mainstream secondary system, Minister Parag revealed that nearly half of all students who sat the 2026 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations pursued at least one TVET subject—reflecting a notable 8.9 percent increase in candidate enrollments.
“Every region in Guyana will have a TVET centre by the end of 2026,” Minister Parag affirmed. “Partnerships are taking training closer to communities and practical instruction centres. Nearly half of the students who wrote the 2026 CSEC exams pursued at least one TVET subject—an increase of 8.9 percent.”
Economic Transformation Driving Demand for Skilled Trades
Senior educational officials addressed the structural shift underway across Guyana’s labor market, noting that large-scale infrastructure, energy, and construction projects have made technical trades more lucrative than ever:
- Workforce Modernization: Deputy Chief Education Officer (TVET) Dr. Ritesh Tularam pointed out that rapid national development is creating intense pressure for certified technicians, welders, electricians, and civil engineering specialists.
- Curriculum Responsiveness: Dr. Tularam stressed that the ministry’s TVET curriculum is actively reviewed and revised in direct consultation with private industry leaders to ensure graduating cohorts hold certifications that match current employer standards.
- Gender Inclusivity & Independence: Assistant Chief Education Officer (TVET) Marcia Paddy-Andrews emphasized that technical education offers equal, viable career pathways for young men and women alike, directly driving financial independence and expanding employability across non-traditional fields.
“Guyana is undergoing tremendous transformation, and this transformation has created new demands for skilled professionals,” Dr. Tularam explained. “Our TVET system will remain responsive, and we must ensure that our curriculum reflects the needs of our industry—and, of course, it does reflect the needs of our industry.”
“TVET provides opportunities for both boys and girls to develop practical skills, employability, and financial independence,” Paddy-Andrews stated.
The exhibition floor at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre featured interactive student-led demonstrations, showcasing robotics, electrical wiring installations, mechanical fabrication, architectural drawing, and agricultural science. Ministry officials affirmed that the exposition serves as a core recruitment vehicle to guide young Guyanese toward certified vocational trades as the country expands its industrial footprint.
