NEWS RELEASE

Grenada Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (GCTVET)

Thursday 2^nd August 2007- St. George’s: The Government of Grenada continues its mandate to promote sustainable growth and development for the people of Grenada in this era of globalization. The Grenadian Government has given the highest priority to the provision of the employable vocational and life skills required for success in the 21^st century. A population of highly skilled, innovative, motivated and critical thinking people can only be accomplished by the establishment of a relevant and dynamic system of Vocational Education Training.

With this structure in mind, the Government has decided to establish a Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training which will operate under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and which will be composed of a broad range of stakeholders and interest groups.

The establishment of the Council is an indispensable requirement to the effective functioning of the common regional framework linked to the CSME. This focus is an integral aspect of an ongoing regional initiative to harmonize and recognize common standards, competency-based training and portability of skills. This has been reflected in both the Caricom and OECS TVET strategies and is an imperative within the context of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).

Priority will be given to the following target groups:

· In-school youth through the inclusion of technical and vocational education and training in the core curriculum;

· Out-of-school youth and adults through the provision of training opportunities in collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the business community, non-governmental organizations etc.

Duties and responsibilities of the Council:

The duties and responsibilities of the Council are related to the following functions:

(i) The Council shall be an Advisory Body

The Council shall serve as an advisory body to the Minister for Education with regard to policies and strategies required for an efficient and effective system of technical and vocational education, suited to the needs of Grenada.

(ii) The Council shall be a policy making and strategic development Body

Within the general framework established by the Minister, the Council shall establish a policy and strategic framework to guide the design, delivery and evaluation of technical and vocational education programmes and projects.

(iii) The Council shall be a Monitoring and Evaluation Body

The Council shall monitor and evaluate technical and vocational educational programmes and projects within the context of the above-mentioned policy and strategic framework and within the framework of periodic reviews of policies and strategies. In this regard, the Council shall consider and approve proposals and reports submitted by subsidiary and subordinate bodies.

The Council shall receive and consider reports submitted by agencies mandated to report to the Council and on the basis of such reports and other considerations issue directives to such bodies.

(iv) The Council shall establish regulations, guidelines and procedures

Under the general direction and in accordance with specific directives given by the Minister, the Council shall establish a system of regulations including guidelines and procedures relating to –

(a) the design and delivery of training courses;

(b) the registration of training providers;

(d) the certification and accreditation of persons successfully completing training courses or passing qualification examinations in respect of any specified occupation;

(e) quality assurance methods;

(f) registration, certification and regulation of other training providers.

(v) The Council shall Report to the Minister for Education

The Council shall present reports to the Minister for Education in accordance with schedules agreed to between the Minister and the Chairman of the Council.

(vi) Length of Tenure and Conditions of Service

The members of the Council shall be appointed to serve for a period of three (3) years in the first instance, with membership subject to renewal by the Minister. The Minister may revoke the appointment of the Chairman and/or any member or members of the Council should the Council or any member, thereof, fail to-:

(a) act in accordance with the general policy framework established by the Minister or to give effect to the policy directions of the Minister;

(b) act in accordance with the decisions of the Council;

(c) fulfil the obligations and responsibilities of the Council and its members in accordance with the provisions of these terms of reference.

The Minister may also revoke the appointment of any member of the Council (including the Chairman) should any member act in a manner which would bring the Council into disrepute.

(vii) Legal Status

The Council shall be a semi-autonomous body which shall derive its powers from relevant legal provisions and the directives of the Minister of Education.

(viii) General Powers

The Council shall reserve the right to engage or co-opt any organization or individual in its deliberations in cases in which, in the opinion of the Council, such involvement will contribute to the work of the Council.

(ix) Organisation of Work

The Council shall meet once every calendar month. Special meetings may be called by the Chairman as and when required to address issues of special concern or importance.

(x) Secretarial Services

The Ministry of Education shall provide secretarial services to the Council through the Secretariat of the National Training Agency (NTA). Prior to the establishment of the NTA, the Ministry shall provide such services by assigning to the Council a secretary selected from its existing staff.

(xi) Financing

The operations of the Council shall be financed by the Government of Grenada through budgetary allocation of the Ministry of Education.