NCTVET Invites Employers to Join its ATO Programme

In continuation of its efforts to develop a world class Jamaican work force, the National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NCTVET) has invited employers to become affiliated to its Accredited Training Organization (ATO) Programme, through which they can provide skills training for members of their communities.

The invitation was extended by Jennifer Walker, Director of Quality Assurance at NCTVET, as she gave the main address at an employers information seminar, sponsored by HEART Trust/NTA at the Casa Maria Hotel in Port Maria on October 27.

Miss Walker said the programme was established out of recognition that employers had a critical role to play in the training of the work force of the country, so employees could compete with their counterparts throughout the world.

She said business organizations and other enterprises participating in the programme would be given official recognition as Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) institutions, which had satisfied the criteria for the development and delivery of training in a TVET system.

Miss Walker explained that accreditation would be based on an evaluation exercise, to provide evidence of the operation and outcome of the training programme to be offered by the company seeking accreditation.

She pointed out that accreditation would assist companies by promoting the sharing of new ideas, and current trends in education and training, while helping students to gain entry into institutions, professions and business.

Miss Walker said that organizations applying for accreditation would be visited by Accreditation and Evaluation Officers from NCTVET, who would make a preliminary assessment of the their condition, educational programme and operations to determine eligibility, adding that advice and supervision would be provided in circumstances where an institution was found to be ineligible.