Guyana

Vocational training programs in Guyana are limited to the following areas, I) Apprenticeship programs within the industrial sector under the Ministers of Labor, ii) Technical/Vocational institutions administered by the Ministry of Education throughout Guyana.

The requirements to enter into the four-year apprenticeship program are to be between the 15-17 age range and to have mastered an entrance exam at the proficiency level of the secondary education program. The technical/vocational institution also requires the mastery of an entrance exam and requires interested individual to be at least 15 years of age at entry.

Individual who are considered low achievers and not likely to succeed with the entrance exam have other avenues of becoming prepared. In 1992, the Government of Guyana secured funding from the Inter-American Development Bank for the Board of Industrial Training to execute on-the-job vocational training for unemployed low achievers (usually coming from large families with low incomes and similar disadvantaged groups).

Four hundred and sixty-eight (468) youths between the ages of 16-20 years from the 585 applicants were offered training in skills that were in demand in the country's economy. Participating private companies were requested to offer permanent employment to at least 50% of the trainees attached to their businesses' workshops. The remainder of the trainees were assisted with employment opportunities elsewhere, and a few opted for self-employment in areas such as leather craft, dressmaking and service oriented fields.

A similar project as the one just described is presently being considered for implementation in 1995 because of it's success. Less common occupations such as rural community self employment skills will be the focus of this project.

Also under consideration is a revised draft legislation of the Industrial Training Act; Law of Guyana. This document proposes to unite the administration of vocational institutions and the apprenticeship activities into a single national entity. Also being proposed is the introduction of a training levy / rebate system. It is anticipated that this system, along with a grant from the national budget, will be available to establish a & start-up fund" scheme for viable youth enterprise initiatives.