Embrace skills, GIS students told

Minister of Home Affairs and Information Wilfred Abrahams has given the assurance that the boys and girls at the Government Industrial School (GIS) will be taught skills to help them become productive adults.

During a presentation of hair-cutting equipment from Paradise Beauty Supplies to the students of the Dodd’s, St Philip institution on Wednesday, Abrahams said going forward, every student who passes through GIS must leave with a new skill.

“We are going to look at things that are of interest to you because we need to hear from young people what it is that they want. And we want to position you that when you leave here to transition very easily back into your communities, and you transition into your communities and complement and enhance what is going on. So open your arms and embrace it,” he said.

Minister Abrahams added that management of the GIS was working on introducing Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) at the institutions to allow wards to gain qualifications as part of their academic development. Abrahams encouraged the wards to embrace the educational opportunities offered at the institution.

Minister Abrahams chats with a GIS student.

“It is up to you now. We have made our promise and with the help of Paradise Beauty we have fulfilled that promise and it is now over to you all what you do with it. What I will tell you is that I have already secured the services of a qualified barber who used to teach barbering at the polytechnic.

“This is Mr David Carter who has volunteered to come and do a number of sessions with you to get you started. It is a new year, it is time for new attitudes, it is time for new approaches,” Abrahams said.

During the event, Abrahams thanked the management and staff of GIS for helping to transform the institution in light of the negative publicity it received last year. He also extended gratitude to Paradise Beauty, which has also been making similar contributions to other schools, for the timely donation which would help improve the lives of those at GIS.

“Late last year we made a presentation of a fully-equipped salon to the Government Industrial School intended principally for the young ladies who want to use it and where they can learn all aspects of cosmetology.

Minister Abrahams takes a look at the equipment.

“And we made a promise at that presentation that in short order, we are going to do a presentation to the boys. I am pleased to say that when the last report came out, I was contacted by persons from Paradise Beauty and they offered to donate the full set of equipment because they bought into the vision,” he said.

anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb