Youth Affairs Director wants more focus on entrepreneurship training

Director of Youth Affairs Cleviston Hunte believes a heavy focus on entrepreneurship training is needed within Barbados’ educational system.

Hunte made the observation as he gave brief remarks during the Youth Entrepreneurial Scheme’s Orientation for its Entrepreneurial Development Training Programme at the Ministry’s headquarters, Sky Mall, Haggatt Hall, on Saturday.

Hunte said that though he was proud to see the level of enthusiasm growing yearly with young people seeking to start their own businesses, he stressed that, unfortunately, the educational system still predominantly teaches persons to be workers, rather than owners of their own businesses.

“Our school system, our educational system always taught us to be part of that production line, it never taught us to be owners of the production. That is something that over time, we are trying to address and I don’t think we are addressing it in sufficient quantities.

“We need to do some deconstruction to be able to see how we can be able to use the system, but also use it in a way that will benefit us to the growth of workers and owners of businesses within Barbados,” he said.

He, however, added that though COVID-19 made a heavy impact on the country’s economic output, one area in which it was a positive influence, was in encouraging young persons to try new and creative tactics to grow their businesses.

“COVID taught a lot of us that change [especially] in terms of adversity, you are able to create strengths and bring things out of you, that if you stay within the norm, it would never happen. As we say in YES, we provide the opportunities for you to innovate, and for you to create products that would make you successful.”