ITVET Hosts Open Day
Today, visitors at the ITVET, Belize City, got the opportunity to experience the products and services made by students enrolled in the vocational and technical programs. Over four hundred students are studying to become mechanics, cosmetologists, carpenters, front-desk personnel, among other trades, and they took the day hold an open house to show just how much they are learning at the institution. News Five’s Andrea Polanco shares more from today’s open house.
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
ITVET Belize City students showcased their knowledge and skills at their annual open house. Students from across several vocational and technical courses exhibited samples of their work with detailed displays from cosmetology to refrigeration to welding. ITVET instructor says this event serves two purposes.
Roderick Elijio
Roderick Elijio, Instructor, ITVET Belize City
“It is a day when we get the opportunity to show off. We display all what we have done and learnt over a period of eight to nine months and we also use it as a way of recruitment. We invite high schools and the public to come and see what we have done. While you are going to see the product that we have done, there are processes behind that and that is where the students are gonna explain what they have done.”
ITVET programs are intensive – about seventy percent of a course is practical work and thirty-percent is theory. The automotive course typically runs for about nine months. Justin Waight and Carl Augustine share why they are doing this certified programme.
Justin Waight
Justin Waight, Automotive Program, ITVET Belize City
“I was attending UB at first and then I decided that career wise I wanted to do a trade because my father is a welder. So, I already grew up in a trade field and my favorite thing was always mechanic. So, then I decided to myself that it is best I come to ITVET and do my training. If I am going to seek employment with this background, I will have the proper knowledge and understanding of how the mechanical field operates in terms of engines and so forth. You have a lot of mechanics out there that yes they do know what they are doing, but they lack that finishing touch.”
Carl Augustine
Carl Augustine, Automotive Program, ITVET Belize City
“All that I came to ITVET for is to get certified. Yes, you learn a lot stuff and new stuff. I also add towards it and add to my brothers in the class. I enjoy it a lot. The teachers teach you – right now I am employed and if I leave my employment and go somewhere else, they teach you to develop your skills and you can lay whatever knowledge and skills you have on the table so you could be employed.”
Beth Sheran is the only female doing welding at the ITVET Belize City. She says her goal is to have her own business.
Beth Sheran
Beth Sheran, Welding Program, ITVET Belize City
“Never done welding before but I gave it a try. So far, I am doing well. I am on the top of my class. It has been a challenge but I like challenges. It doesn’t stay at one level, it goes higher but more than likely I want to go out of the country. But if not, until I can reach that goal then it is here in country and then later on I can have own business.”
After students complete the programme, they do a one month on the job training in different workplaces. According to Elijio, the ITVET’s success rate is high – more than ninety percent of the students find gainful employment.
Roderick Elijio
“Most cases, our trainees are kept at the place where they had been placed to do that on the job training – what we call OJT. So, I would definitely put our success rate between ninety and ninety-five percent.”
Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.
