Aimed at ‘Fueling the future,’ today the Government Technical Institute (GTI) opened its doors to showcase first-hand opportunities of what the institute has to offer to potential students while promoting Guyana’s economic development.
This bi-annual exhibition was held under the theme “Fueling the Future.”
Chief Education Officer, Mr. Marcel Hutson at the event noted that he has perused a number of documents on technical and vocational education which the Ministry has in its possession, and posited that now is the time for those projects to materialize.
“I would like to see these projects taking on a more viable form to the extent that industries can be generated from them.” The CEO addressing those gathered said the time has come for the stigmas attached to TVET to be buried and noted too that “the exhibition is a good way of creating a sense of awareness as to the potential for this field of study to national development.”
Hutson further addressed the critical role of institutions such as GTI to the human resource development for the nation’s benefit. “The improvement in human development is imperative for economic development of a country hence a prudent education system assigns priority to such in its policy formulation and ensures availability of appropriate funding for this purpose…this is evident in the Ministry’s Strategic Plan.”
Additionally, the CEO acknowledged that technical vocational education is gaining tremendous popularity as it relates to education and training that prepares people for employment and at the same times makes them more productive in various economic fields.
Mr. Hutson positioned that human development is directly linked with the economic growth of a country as such “human development is imperative for long-term sustainable growth as it exhibits threshold effects in the sense that nations must attain a certain HD level before future economic growth becomes sustainable.”
In this regard, the CEO spoke of Germany’s system popular for its “dual apprenticeship system” which focuses on center and enterprise based training as imperatives.
Meanwhile, Chairman of GTI’s Board, Mr. Vincent Alexander labelled the event as one to be seen as pride and joy filled for the GTI students “as they have the opportunity to demonstrate to the wider community what it is they do at GTI and what they would have achieved.”
For the secondary school students who visited the exhibition, Alexander said the open day exhibition should be an inspiration that compromises the opportunity for them to see what the institute has to offer in their pursuit of future career choices.
GTI’s Principal, Mrs. Renita Crandon said this year’s Trade of Trades Day is aimed at highlighting the linkages between skills training and industry, and the transition between GTI, the world of work and higher education.
Additionally, Principal Crandon is of the belief that the exposure can be mapped to the primary and secondary levels.
With regards to the theme, Mrs. Crandon noted that the exhibits highlight future projects by the institute and innovations by the staff and students. “These projects are future based and demonstrates the importance of science and technology to TVET and the development of the economy,” she said.
Turning her attention to the concept of ‘the green initiative’, Mrs. Crandon indicated that the displays serve as an example as to where the school is headed in terms of its productions and protection of the environment.
Outside of the departmental exhibits, a number of Private Sector agencies also participated in the activity. These included Banks DIH Ltd., DDL, Floor It, Guyana Geology and Mines Commission, Brass Aluminum Caste Iron Foundry, the Environmental Protection Agency, Bumper to Bumper Services, Guyana Defense Force, Guyana Industrial Training Centre, Lands and Survey, University of Guyana, Guyana Power and Light, E-Governance, Guyana Gold Fields Inc., Guyana Energy Agency, IPED and the Bureau of Standards. 
