M.O.E. to Invest $10 Million into CET across the Country
Today, News Five was back at the Center for Employment Training in San Ignacio, this time for an Open House attended by members of the Cayo business community. While the two days of activities are to showcase what the school offers, it was an announcement by Minister of Education Francis Fonseca that is sure to get attention. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.
Francis Fonseca
Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education
“We have established a scholarship program specifically for the ITVET sector. We are also engaged in a three-year project that will see meaningful investments in improving the capacity of the ITVET, upgrading the equipment and also a focus on technology. It will be a significant investment, but we are looking at somewhere in the region of ten million dollars over the next three years investment into the ITVET Sector.”
Duane Moody, Reporting
Ten million dollars – that’s the budget that has been set aside by the Ministry of Education for improvements at the technical and vocational centers across the country. The ITVETs and Centers for Employment Training build the capacity of its students to meet the demands of the workforce. Minister of Education Francis Fonseca says gone are the days where these centers are considered mainly for those who are not academically inclined.
Francis Fonseca
“Any investment we make in that sector we see it as critically important to the national development of Belize. To the tremendous work that they have been doing here at Cayo CET has really been trailblazing, along with the Orange Walk ITVET, they have really been models of what can be accomplished when you have a plan and you invest in technical vocational education and training. So for us at the Ministry of Education, human capital is critically important to national development and that is what technical and vocational education is all about. It is about investing in human capital, it is about workforce development, it is about equipping our people with the skills and knowledge and information they need to create employment and to find employment. So we are absolutely committed to the development of this sector.”
There are a number of programs that the institution offers and they were all on display today. From the traditional skills training programs in mechanics, plumbing and carpentry, the institution has evolved to also offer two-year programs in tourism and hospitality and cosmetology among others. Cayo CET is being defined as the leading technical vocational institution in Belize.
Edilto Romero
Edilto Romero, Manager, Cayo CET
“One of our slogans is the future is in our hands and technical vocational education is skills training, capacity building and it is for the future workforce and on display, we will have just that. The proof is in the pudding and today we want you to experience this with your own eyes. Take a look at how talented and gifted and with a lot of hard work and dedication and commitment what these guys have produced for you today.”
Orlando Espat
Orlando Espat, Chairman, Cayo CET
“We have partnered with other institution. It’s been a lot, so I don’t want to mention everything, but some of you all are here representing your institutions and I want to thank you all for the level of cooperation. We have build the institution to a level that we are not satisfied yet, because we can go further than where we are today and further we definitely will go.”
Partnership with the private sector is critical because the services offered at the school are to meet the needs of the workforce. Duane Moody for News Five.
