MOUNTAIN SPRING BAY, Trelawny — Education Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon says she will be pushing to have the skills-focused HEART/NSTA Trust programme, now restricted to participants over 17 years old, more deeply integrated into high schools across the country. She has asked teachers for their support as the strategic shift is made.

“I will be working to change that legislation so that we can have HEART working more in the schools, and therefore we can get more support for TVET (technical and vocational education and training) in our schools,” revealed Morris Dixon on Wednesday.

“That’s a big change! So when I do it I want to hear you supporting me in public that this is something that is important for our schools,” the education minister cajoled, Wednesday, while addressing the final day of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association’s (JTA) 62nd Annual Conference which was held over three days at Ocean Coral Spring resort in Trelawny.

Established by late former prime minister and Jamaica Labour Party Leader Edward Seaga in 1982, HEART’s mandate was to provide the country’s workers with the skills needed to boost productivity. Traditionally there have been clear lines drawn between academic and vocational studies, with the latter often regarded as a second option. In recent years, however, there has been a push to change that perception, and it is an issue Morris Dixon has spoken of in the past.

Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information Dr Dana Morris Dixon addressing the final day of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association’s (JTA) 62nd Annual Conference which was held at the Ocean Coral Spring hotel in Trelawny. (Photo: Anthony Lewis)

“With all the changes happening globally, TVET is the area that is going to take the world forward. That’s where we’re going to have jobs. And that’s where I need your help with telling parents that your child wanting to be a plumber is a good thing. I want you to be able to tell your parents that if your child wants to do construction, that’s great,” she said Wednesday.

The minister highlighted a global shortage of skilled practitioners, including construction workers, plumbers, and electricians.

“TVET has to be more centrally integrated, even in traditional high schools. It has to be, and you and I agree on this one,” she said to the more than 250 educators in attendance.

Beyond students leaving high school with Caribbean Examinations Council and City and Guilds qualifications, Morris Dixon said it is equally critical for them to be armed with certification in a specialised skill area.

“That’s a fundamental change in the system, but it’s something that I’m committed to working with, and I hear the [JTA] president is also interested in that area,” said the minister.

“That is something I’ll be coming back to the JTA on, to help me in championing that change in our system, because it’s important that we have more skills certification in our high schools,” Morris Dixon added.

It may not be a hard sell as JTA President LaSonja Harrison made similar comments during her investiture ceremony Monday night.

“Isn’t it high time that all children leaving high school do so with certification in a skilled area? If we mean our population any good, that needs to become mandatory,” said Harrison.

She also suggested that Government reallocate a portion of the revenue earned from the three per cent payroll tax on businesses, the HEART Trust levy, to assist with upgrading and maintaining technical and vocational schools.

“This only makes sense, to my mind, because these institutions — oftentimes in collaboration with HEART — ensure their students graduate with said certification. I am not just questioning the Government, I’m positing possible solutions as well,” the JTA head said Monday.

“Another option is [that] the monies allocated to provide AI chatbots, via Jamaica Learning Assist, can and should be rerouted to support this,” Harrison added.