The Antigua and Barbuda Institute for Continuing Education (ABICE) has reported a 30% increase in the number of students since 2015.
The mission of the ABICE is: Building Competences for National Development. The ABICE trains youth in automobile repairs, welding, drafting, refrigeration and air conditioning, building skills (to include carpentry, plumbing, electricity, masonry), cosmetology, office procedure and many more skill sets for which there is a demand.
The ABICE also provides CVQ certification that is acceptable in the CARICOM and OECS sub-region, so that their students can choose to move within the single economic space permitted under treaty.
ABICE reports that there are 504 students enrolled at ABICE and they attend during 4 shifts daily: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm; 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm; 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm; and 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
There are two levels of training, one lasting 9 months, and the other lasting 18 months; the cost each year is $585 annually for nationals of Antigua and Barbuda.
ABICE says that all of their graduates find internships, and 65% become permanent employees. The ABICE works with the private and public sectors to achieve the high level of placement.
The ABICE indicated that new and expanded classrooms are required, and showed images of the spaces in which training takes place. The Cabinet learned that the former administration disemboweled the smaller training nurseries that were located in Urlings, Swetes, Ottos and PMS, and left the
ABICE as the only place where training would take place. That error has made the spaces at ABICE too small, and reduced the effectiveness of the skills-training that comes after the students have begun to stray.
The Government plans to restore the centers.
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In many European countries it is this type of education that brought economic growth and prosperity to the country. Especially in Germany. Factories did not care about university educated people. They needed workers that were educated specific for the industry. What we need to do in Antigua is to have vocational education on various levels, up to university level.
many of our children loose interest in learning when they are not academically inclined. We see how poorly they do with math and English. And when you listen to the daily radio talk shows and parliament you would very often here how the Queens English is being poorly used. And I am guilty of it myself. I have met many very good contractors, plumbers and electricians that could not even write their names properly. But they did a fantastic job trades wise. And they could count. You can never short pay them. Not even a cent.
The cliche states that all horses were not born to run alike….. As human beings the same applies… Some of us are academically inclined while others are technically inclined…… Having a degree is one thing but not adding value to the community is another….. This usually happens because many degree holders choose to be followers and not leaders in companies and hence display very little critical thinking….. On the otherhand, the technical person are usually forced to become critical thinkers, perhaps its a matter of survival, but eventually these are the persons who become entrepreneurs, pumping alot of taxes into the economy……
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