“Building a new institutionality for Training in Trinidad & Tobago”

1. “Building a new institutionality for Trainingin Trinidad & Tobago” Presenter: Mr. Fazal Karim Chief Executive Officer NATIONAL TRAINING AGENCY 30th July 2003 36th Meeting of the Technical Committee of Cinterfor/ILO – La Antigua, Guatemala

2. Aim of Presentation • Innovative Experiences in the Technical Vocational Education and Training [TVET] in Trinidad and Tobago • The New Institutionality in Training for Trinidad and Tobago

3. Summary • Trinidad And Tobago - An Overview • Government Policy • Problems affecting the Training System • The Role of the National Training Agency • Addressing these problems

4. x Trinidad And Tobago - An Overview • Twin island state located near South American mainland • Population of about 1.3 million • Average annual growth rate of 0.5% • Engaged in economic integration – FTAA, Mercosur, NAFTA, WTO/GATT, Cotonou Agreement • Engaged in Caricom Single Market and Economy – CSME

5. Widespread use of the World Wide Web Technical • IT skills becoming a necessity for employment • Concerned percentage of 16-25 age group that did not succeed in traditional academics Social • Emphasis on training for social development Economic • Expansion in Energy and Construction Sector [Oil & Gas] • Sustained growth in Information Technology Sector • Diversification into Services and Knowledge Products • Globalization • Stable Government • Legislative machinery in place Political Trinidad And Tobago : Overview cont’d The Trinidad and Tobago Environment

6. Government Policy • Vision 2020 • Universal Primary and Secondary Education • Present Statistics – Graduates annually • Primary – 26,000 • Secondary [Ordinary] – 18,000 • Secondary [Advanced] – 8,000 • Tertiary [University] – 1,500 • Aim – 20% participation in Tertiary Education by 2005 • Post-Secondary Education to be tripled in 5-7 years

7. The Student’s Path • Primary Education • Secondary Entrance Assessment [SEA] Examination • Secondary Education • Ordinary Level – CXC, NEC • Advanced Level – Cambridge, CAPE • TVET • SERVOL, MLIO • YTEPP, NESC, NIHERST, MIC, ECIAF, TTHTI • Tertiary • University of the West Indies • Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Technology • University of Trinidad and Tobago (Proposed)

8. Current Problems in TVET • Training Mismatch • Proliferation of Certificates • Articulation • Occupational Standards of Competence • Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition • Uncertified Apprenticeship Programme • Limited access to education and training • Portability of qualifications

9. The National Training Agency • Caricom Strategy - 1990 • NTA officially launched - 1999 • The National Training Agency (NTA) is the umbrella agency for effecting reform in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Trinidad and Tobago. • Its role is to co-ordinate and regulate TVET

10. Major Achievements • National Career Guidance Programme • Over 30,000 School Children • Completed Seven Labour Market Surveys • Trinidad – four • Tobago – three • Developed Seven Industry Training Organizations (ITOs) • Developed Seventeen Standards / Qualifications • Approved fourteen major training providers to deliver the qualifications • Target – to grant 3,000 awards by the year end

11. Level 5 - Chartered & Advanced Professional (e.g. Chartered Engineers, Accountants): Association ofChartered & Certified Accountants (ACCA) Level 4 – Professional (e.g. Degree): ROYTEC, UWI Level 3 – Technician & Technologist (e.g. Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, Mechanical Engineering Technician): Trinidad and Tobago Institute of Technology, San Fernando Technical Institute (COSTAATT) Level 2 – Craft (e.g. Electrical Installation Craft, Plumbing Craft): MIC Level 1 - Pre-Craft (e.g. Early Childhood Care, Housekeeping): School of Continuing Studies National Qualification Framework

12. How does the NTA propose to address TVET deficiencies? • Trinidad and Tobago National Vocational Qualification • Standardized National Vocational Qualification for courses pursued in TVET • Rigorous Quality Assurance System – similar to that in the UK • Recognized by employers • Competency-Based

13. NTA Strategic Functions • To conduct Labour Market Surveys and distribute their findings to all stakeholders • To produce, with industry, National Occupational Standards of Competence (NOS) • To develop, produce and award Trinidad and Tobago National Vocational Qualifications (TTNVQs)

14. NTA Strategic Functions cont’d • To establish a quality assurance regime for accrediting Technical Vocational Education and Training(TVET) providers • To manage a National Apprenticeship Programme (NAP) as identified in government’s policy • To market and promote the products and services of the National Training Agency (NTA)

15. National Training Agency The New Technical and Vocational Education and Training Approach Labour Market Research Quality Assurance Occupational Standards & Sector Support Accreditation Competency -based TVET Assessment & Certification TTNVQ SUMMARY

16. The National Accreditation Commission • Developed through collaboration by CORD/NTA • Expected to become operational by January 2004 • Quality assure Programmes and Institutions through Accreditation

17. Why the TTNVQ? • Rationalize the range of Qualifications - One Qualification • Benchmarked against the National Occupational Standards set by Industry Experts • Independent Curriculum • Competency-Based – done On the Job or in a Training Institution • Used in Skill Assessments & PLAR etc. • Used in Apprenticeship, Training, HR etc.

18. MUCHAS GRACIAS