The establishment and governance of a regional training and certification framework in support of the overall development of this region’s human capital continues to remain a priority for all CARICOM governments.

“It remains critical and compulsory to any and all initiatives geared towards regional sustainability and economic competitiveness,” explained Mrs. Elphege Joseph, Chief Executive Officer of the National Training Agency (NTA). The NTA is the governing body for the reformation, co-ordination and revitalization of all Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) throughout Trinidad and Tobago. “It speaks to building partnerships within and amongst industries and communities, training providers and all other institutions that are engaged in the delivery of skills –based training,” she continued.

Over the past few years, NTATT has responded to requests by the Caribbean Association of National Training Agency (CANTA) and CARICOM to place more strategic emphasis on the development of a skilled labour force in support of CSME and economic diversification. In light of this, NTA continues to be heavily engaged in a number of products and services that are a priority to what may be termed “the way forward” for our corner of the globe. These include the development of Regional Occupational Standards, Curriculum development, the training of instructors/Assessors /Verifiers, Labour Market Research as well as Registered Programme approval which in Centre Approval.

The outcomes of these deliverables are in direct support of the Caribbean Vocational qualification (CVQ), which assures the required standards for the uniform delivery of competency-based education, training and certification within the CSME.

Currently the CVQ has been successfully implemented in 67 secondary schools across Trinidad and Tobago and it is accepted as the minimum pre-requisite for further skills training in many post-secondary institutions and training providers such as National Energy Skills Center, Youth Training and Employment Partnership Programme and Metal Industries Company Limited.

Presently, the NTATT has also been engaged in implementing talks with private and state agencies such as Caribbean Airlines Limited, Trinidad Cement Limited and the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force towards a holistic review of their in-house skills training systems which are expected to be guided by the relevant Occupational Standards towards the award or the CVQ.

In 2009, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Tobago House of Assembly in support of the implementation of the CVQ within the secondary schools and all post-secondary institutions. NTATT is one of three regional agencies charged with the responsibility of building a skills-based economy. Jamaica and Barbados are the only other two CARICOM states that presently have such facilities and resources. Nevertheless, NTATT has been privy to hosting a number of study tours from our regional counterparts such as the Foundation Labour Mobilization and Development Organisation from Suriname, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Antigua and the Bahamas.

Most recently, representatives from St. Vincent and the Grenadines arrived at the NTATT earlier in June and were received by Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Elphege Joseph and her Management team.

Such requests augur well for the management and staff of NTATT as they continue to commit resources in support of building a regional and global brand that is associated with competency, innovation, entrepreneurship and a competitive skills-based economy.