The days when Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) was offered only in technical high schools and upgraded secondary schools are over. The Ministry of Education, Youth and Information is moving to mainstream TVET in the education system, to include all schools at the primary level.

It is to be done using the TVET Integration Model developed by Chief Education Officer Dr Grace McLean, which is a practical guide for principals and teachers. In a presentation at a recent TVET integration sensitisation session at Wolmer’s Boys’ School for all principals at the primary level, Dr McLean argued that while TVET in Jamaica today faces challenges linked to the unstructured way in which it was introduced, it has significant value for the sector and for the country in general.

The model, she said, will provide a more structured and stronger link between education and the development of the workforce which will ultimately redound to economic growth and development.

In implementing the model, teachers will demonstrate to pupils different career pathways and ensure that the TVET occupations are distinguished from others, the Chief Education Officer disclosed. In addition, pupils will get the opportunity to experiment and develop an understanding of how basic skills lead to broader and more fundamental skills development.

Principals, vice principals and other school administrators weighed in on the introduction of the TVET model.

Lorraine Bramwell, vice-principal of Red Hills All-Age School in St Andrew, said the integration concept was a good initiative which, with necessary funding and resources, could be implemented at her school.

“There are many students who are not academically inclined and find it easier to learn a skill in an area that they are better at. At the primary level we do not have adequate resources for a TVET focus. However, if we get the resources, the teachers will embrace it and the students will also appreciate the addition to the curriculum,” Bramwell said.

Lexford Johnson, Principal at Norman Gardens Primary School in Kingston, believes the TVET model is relevant because it is an important requirement for persons to be skilled for the modern workforce.

“We have tried it at our school through the ASTEP programme and found it to be successful. We could not continue with it because of financial constraints, so we are hoping with this introduction that we will be afforded the requisite resources for the development of the students,” he said.