High School Dropouts Benefit From Skills Training

Thirty-eight high school dropouts are now equipped to enter the workforce having received skills training and certification from the HEART Trust/NTA.

The beneficiaries are from six Citizens Security and Justice Programme (CSJP) communities in St. Catherine. They participated in a six-month programme at the Innswood Pre-College Skills Training Institution, where they received certification in General Construction (Levels 1 and 2) and Motor Vehicle Repairs (Level 1).

The course is the product of an ongoing partnership between the CSJP and Innswood High School, which began in 2006.

Course Coordinator, Cecelia Rowe, said this cohort of students, who hail from Homestead, March Pen, Ellerslie Gardens, Tawes Meadows and Greendale Cluster, were involved in part two of the programme, which concluded in June.

“We are proud of the 38 persons that we certified. This is an achievement for the institution, and we hope that this partnership will continue so that more persons from the communities can become certified,” Ms. Rowe said.

CSJP Community Action Officer, Kareem Morrison, said her team is very pleased with the programme’s progress.

“We have watched the programme blossom into something that youngsters can look forward to in order to acquire a skill. It is an awesome feeling to work alongside them. We intend to carry them to the furthest they can go and we are now in the process of negotiating to administer another similar programme like this one,” he said.

Alicia Robinson, an outstanding participant in the programme, has already gained employment in her area of study, general construction.

She has expressed gratitude to the CSJP and the Innswood Pre-College Skills Training Institution.

Miss Robinson is encouraging more young people to join community groups so that they can become aware of training opportunities.

“Young people cannot sit around and wait for opportunities, they have to go out and seek them. There are many opportunities available to young people in communities but they are unaware as they are not active members in the community groups. One of the best places you can get help is through the community centre. I am encouraging young people to get involved, volunteer and I can guarantee that they will reap rewards,” she urged.

Part three of the programme will commence in September of this year. Interested persons must be at least 17 years old and should visit the Innswood Pre-College Skills Training Institution or call 981-3960 for more details.