TVET Council moves to establish construction skills body

T he Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council said it plans to establish a skills body for the construction industry, with the initiative expected to be developed during the current financial year. TVET Council Executive Director Henderson Eastmond said the proposed body would bring together people working in the sector to help identify skills gaps, advise on industry needs and guide training as the construction industry continues to evolve. “Some people call them sector skill councils. Yes, we want this country to function, think, plan, and work in sectors,” Eastmond said. He was speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday at the TVET Council, Hastings House West, Balmoral Gap, Hastings, Christ Church, to launch the sixth Barbados Annual Construction and Design Conference (BACDC).

Eastmond said the council had engaged the construction sector in a workshop two weeks ago and would continue consultations with the Barbados Coalition of Service Industries and the Ministry of Labour as it works towards establishing the body. “We want to move, and we are talking to the Barbados Coalition of Service Industries and we’ll be talking to the Ministry of Labour in setting up what we call a sector skills body. ” The body, he explained, would help ensure that training providers and standards keep pace with the needs of the industry. “And what this council will do, this council will advise, this council will plan for the sector. This council will look into the future and say what they want because that is the only way we can keep up as trainers setting standards with the training institutions and what is going on with the sector. ” He said the council intends to establish the body during the financial year before potentially expanding the approach to other areas.…