Caribbean Vocational Qualification being offered at Dolphin Secondary

Dolphin Secondary School in South Georgetown is benefitting from improved facilities including upgrades to its technical and home economics labs to enhance its Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) training programme.

It was disclosed that Headmistress, Krishnoutie Jaipaul, in a media related interview pointed out that the institution offers CVQ in Agricultural Science, commercial food production, and furniture making. Jaipaul noted that students at Dolphin Secondary are excited about these courses.

“We have been selected as a pilot school in the Georgetown educational district to be delivering the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) and as a result of that we were fortunate…,” she said during the interview Monday.

The HM revealed that the school is fortunate to have its facilities upgraded by the education ministry, which also includes a new change room and sick bay area. The Agriculture Ministry also provided the school with a shade house which gives students hands-on training in planting high-value crops such as carrots, broccoli, peppers, and cabbages.

It was disclosed that the previous PPP/C Government had introduced a phased CVQ, which is a competency-based qualification in secondary schools, across every educational district within Guyana.

However, President Irfaan Ali, earlier this year launched the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme to bolster the agriculture sector, empower youths, and create jobs.

The President announced at that event that government would provide all the resources and materials to develop 25 shade houses to be used to house thousands of high-value crops such as broccoli and cauliflower.

As such, at a pre-stakeholder CVQ engagement early in August, Chief Education Officer, Dr Marcel Hutson pointed out that all secondary school students should have job-ready, technical, and vocational skills certification by the time they complete their studies because the education ministry is pushing both academic and economic ‘viability’.

The CEO indicated at the forum that the infusion of more technical and vocational training and certification is part of a long-term plan for students’ development.

It was disclosed by the Caribbean Examination Council, CVQ is based on a competency-based approach to training, assessment and certification. Candidates are expected to demonstrate competence in attaining occupational standards developed by practitioners, industry experts and employers.