Skills Training Center graduates 42 youths to join the employment line

There is a new set of graduates from the Skills Training Center located on Magazine Road in Belize City. There is where a ceremony was held today for more than forty students who have completed courses at the Center. They received training in various fields from the arts to office management, sewing and barbering. Isani Cayetano reports.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

The Class of 2013-2014, a cohort of forty-two students, graduated today from the Skills Training Center in Belize City.  It was the third commencement exercise since the Ministry of Education established the Magazine Road location.  The vocational curriculum offered by the institution is an alternative to the academic courses in high school.  It consists of art, sewing, barbering, front office and PC repair.  Djimon Roberts is a graduate from the art program.

Djimon Roberts, Graduate, Skills Training Center

Djimon Roberts

“There is no beauty without creativity, art is a vehicle for the expression of our ideas, our culture, feelings and emotions.  It has no restriction.  It is spiritual, it soothes the mind and relaxes the soul.  Art embraces all knowledge, language, mathematics, social studies, science, geography, religion, etc.  Many of you may be asking yourselves how can art contribute to our development.  Well, let me explain.  First thing, I am beginning to make my own money.  For the first time in our lives we feel a sense of worth.  We can do something!  This makes me very happy indeed.  Through art I’ve learned about perspective and I have great respect for people with a different point of view from mine.”

Manager Enid Oshon, in her address, reported on the strengthening of skills that are presently being taught to students, skills that are essential to the world of work.

Enid Oshon

Enid Oshon, Manager, Skills Training Center

“Speaking particularly to strengthening, we at Skills Center took a serious approach in that area where there were some trainees who we quickly realized needed the basic skills in reading and comprehension, even before they could take on the practical skills in a meaningful way.  We immediately called a meeting with those parents and shared our planned strategy on how to address the situation.  Today I can report that thirteen of the sixteen of those students completed the remedial work with the dedication and hard work of Ms Christine Staine, the teacher who took them under her wings and stretched her hands across the divide to access the necessary resources and to help them when they needed it most.”

Graduating with a certificate in front office management is Nickisha Gongora.  She is one of fourteen students to have completed the program.

Nickesha Gongora

Nickesha Gongora, Graduate, Skills Training Center

“Apart from the lessons learned in the classroom, there were extracurricular activities from which we learned a great deal.  From sporting activities we learned about teamwork, how to accept defeat and respect the views of other people.  We also had much socialization with members of staff.  Education is a continuous process and everyday something new is learned.  I indeed enjoyed my learning experience at Skills Training Center.”

During the graduation ceremony certificates and awards of merit were also handed out to students who performed exceptionally, including those who majored in two skills. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.