THE Ministry of Education, Youth and Information announced on Friday that it has launched a project to assist students enrolled in the technical sixth form pathway of Career Advancement Programme (CAP) to acquire passports and/or driver’s licences.

As communications director Colin Steer explained it, the ministry will absorb the full costs of passports for students pursuing hospitality-related courses, plumbing, and welding.

In the case of driver’s licences, he said that the ministry will subsidise driving lessons for students pursuing courses in computer servicing and support (computer repairs technician), warehousing and distribution, mechanical maintenance, auto body repairs, and motor vehicle repairs (automotive technology). After the lessons, applicants are expected to complete the process on their own. He added, however, that special consideration will be made for those students on the Programme of Advancement through Health and Education.

“The first phase of this project will account for approximately 2,663 students across the Ministry of Education, Youth & Information regions,” the ministry said. “It is the hope that all enrolled students of grades 12 and 13 will benefit for the 2019/20 academic school year.”

The ministry said the move is part of a broad objective to give students aged 16 – 18 specific labour market/industry skills in order for them to be more marketable for the world of work, continuous education, the global market and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The Passport Immigration & Citizenship Agency, with which the education ministry is partnering on the project, will implement from March 12-31 in selected schools across all six education regions.

The driver’s licence initiative, meanwhile, is expected to start in the week of March 25 through to June 2019.