By Zoila Palma: There is a growing conversation in Belize about education, employment and the skills young people need to build successful careers.
While university degrees remain important for many professions, there is also a constant need for people with practical, technical and vocational skills.
The World Bank noted that shortages of skilled labour are evident in Belize and identified workforce skills development as a priority for the country’s economic growth.
Among the skills that deserve greater attention are construction and carpentry, electrical installation, plumbing, automotive and heavy-duty mechanics, welding and metal fabrication, refrigeration and air-conditioning, nursing and healthcare support, information technology and computer repair, hospitality and culinary skills, and agriculture and agro-processing.
These are not simply jobs that can be done while waiting for a “better” career.
They are essential services that homes, businesses, hotels, farms, factories and communities depend on every day.
Our TVET system already provides training pathways in trades at different levels, including programs designed to prepare students for entry-level and skilled work.
The need for these skills also creates opportunities for entrepreneurship.
A trained electrician can start an electrical business.
A welder can open a fabrication shop.
A mechanic can establish an auto-repair service.
A carpenter can build furniture, cabinets and homes.
A trained refrigeration technician can provide services to households, supermarkets, restaurants and hotels.
With the right training, tools, work ethic and business skills, a vocational qualification can become more than a job—it can become a source of income and employment for others.
This is why Belize needs to promote technical and vocational education and training, or TVET, much more aggressively.
For too long, young people have sometimes been given the impression that success means going to university and earning a traditional degree, while vocational careers are treated as a second option.
That mindset needs to change.
An ILO analysis published earlier this year specifically examined Belize’s TVET system and emphasized the importance of developing, recognizing and certifying skills while improving access to training and the labour market.
The question should not be whether a young person chooses university or vocational training.
The better question is: What skills does Belize need, and how can we prepare our young people to fill those gaps?
We need schools, parents, policymakers and businesses to expose students earlier to trades and technical careers, expand apprenticeships and hands-on training, and make vocational education something students can be proud of.
Belize does not only need more people with certificates and degrees—it needs people who can build, repair, install, create, care, cook, design, troubleshoot and produce.
If there is always a need for these skills, there should always be a strong effort to train Belizeans to fill thsse jobs.
The post The skills Belize needs most: Why we need to promote Vo-Tech appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: There is a growing conversation in Belize about education, employment and the skills young people need to build successful careers. While university degrees remain important for many professions, there is also a constant need for people with practical, technical and vocational skills. The World Bank noted that shortages of skilled labour are
The post The skills Belize needs most: Why we need to promote Vo-Tech appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
