JIS: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green, says the Administration is serious about ramping up training in order to ensure that persons are globally competitive.

 

Mr. Green, who was speaking during the Splashjamaica.com Career Fair and Job Expo at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St. James on Wednesday (May 9), said it is the responsibility of Government to connect citizens with opportunities.

 

“What I find right across the length and breadth of Jamaica is that people are not looking for handouts, people are not looking for politicians to walk around and dole out money.

 

“What they are looking for is opportunity to get gainfully employed, so that they can help themselves and their family; that is what people really want in Jamaica,” he said.

 

In this regard, he noted that the Government has been working to reform the HEART Trust/NTA to ensure that individuals have easy access to globally marketable programmes.

 

“The HEART Trust is not a second-chance school; (it) is providing training for the job market. That is why the HEART Trust/NTA concentrates so much on skilled labour and those areas that we know are needed not just here, but abroad,” he outlined.

 

Mr. Green said it is important for individuals to seek to gain some sort of qualification that will make them marketable.

 

“Certification is important, so if you are not certified, get certified, if you are at a lower level, upgrade,” he suggested.

 

He further stressed the need for persons to analyse the job market and seek qualifications in areas where there are numerous opportunities for employment and job creation.

 

“Look back at the job market, because some of you are trained in areas that there are very limited opportunities. Right now, we have a big drive to get people employed in the business process outsourcing sector … we expect to have 15,000 jobs right here in Jamaica over the next five years,” he shared.

 

Meanwhile, the Minister underscored the importance of also gaining experience to supplement the qualifications one will receive.

 

These, along with the right attitude, he said, will help to advance persons within the job market.

 

CAPTION: Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, Hon. Floyd Green,