HEART Trust to remove fees from all programmes up to Level 4 – Holness
KINGSTON, Jamaica – All programmes offered by the Government-funded HEART NSTA-Trust up to Level 4 (associate degree) will be offered free of cost.
This was announced on Thursday by Prime Minister Andrew Holness during his contribution to the 2023/24 Budget Debate.
“In furtherance of the policy directive to increase the size of the trained labour force, effective April 1, 2023, the HEART NSTA-Trust will remove all tuition and administrative fees from its programmes up to level 4…,” Holness said.
He said this will allow for access to vocational training for all Jamaicans regardless of economic status.
“This will be a game -changer for underserved youth who see fees as an obstacle to their participation in formal training,” Holness added.
The prime minister said the training agency has been directed to modernise its offerings to keep pace with the worldwide trend in automation, smart manufacturing, artificial intelligence and high value services.
To this end, he said the trust is developing centres of excellence and Science, Technology, Engineer and Mathematics (STEM) laboratories at some of its locations.
Currently, the HEART Trust has on roll over 13,000 adult literacy learners and has certified nearly 3,000 through the high school diploma equivalent.
