Husbands: SJPI plays significant role in equipping youth for world of work

Investing in young people by providing training in new technologies and digital systems will be critical to the development of Barbados’ economy, says Minister of State in the Ministry of Education Sandra Husbands.

She was delivering the feature address at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology 2024 graduation ceremony held at the Wildey Gymnasium on Saturday night.

Husbands said the world was undergoing a fourth industrial revolution centred around new technological advancements and it was important for the nation’s youth to be exposed to these new technologies and carry the island forward.

“You have emerged into a world in which there is the fourth industrial revolution; it is here disrupting all technologies and processes. At its heart is the digital revolution and this ushers in new ways to do new things and new ways of doing old things,” she said.

“Digital technology must be understood, digital technology must be mastered and then digital technology must be integrated into the Barbadian landscape and into the skill sets of our people, hence the necessity of SJPI’s mission to produce skilled and innovative graduates through competency based training and the promotion of lifelong learning.”

The minister said the vocational institution therefore had a significant role to play in ensuring young people were well equipped and prepared for the new world of work.

“The work of SJPI is essential to the capacity of Barbados to continue to form enterprises which can attract business from a sophisticated global environment. If we are going to attract new investment, that will bring jobs that pay well, that provide Barbadians with the opportunity to live a good life. It is important that we build the skill sets of all of our citizens because it is for those skills that those businesses will make a determination that they will establish business in Barbados.

“So you are important to that process, investing in you and investing in your skills is what will help us to generate that type of economic growth that guarantees all of you an opportunity to live that best life by providing a new generation of the Barbadian workforce with the ability to perform to a global standard in technical and vocational skills. And in so doing, the SJPI pursues its vision to be a global centre of excellence for technological and vocational education.”

Additionally, Husbands told the graduates that they will need more than certificates and other qualifications to be successful in their careers. She told them that good moral standing will take them far and positive characters reflecting Barbadian culture will make them stand out as global citizens.

“We also want to make sure that we send you forth in such a way that you demonstrate to the world the core values which govern this esteemed establishment. Those values are integrity, accountability, credibility, excellence, innovation, professionalism, and increasing value. And why are these important? People in the world judge you first of all, by how you look, by how you speak and then how you act and people in the world want to engage persons, they can trust. 

“You will be trusted if people feel you are comfortable that you will stand and act truthfully that you are disciplined, that no matter what, your word can be relied on to execute a task, that you will act fairly with others, that you will be objective in your views and that you will conduct yourself in a way that allows them to feel safe around you and to trust you and having sent you forth with a skill set, it was necessary for us to ensure that we also help you to understand these values at the SJPI and encourage you to integrate them into your way of living, into your way of acting because this is how you will not only get an opportunity, secure an opportunity but be able to use each opportunity to move on to a higher one because your reputation will go before you and you will be in high demand,” she said.

Sharia Hall, who earned a diploma distinction in office administration  was the valedictorian.

During her address, she said that this milestone was an important one and although the journey to securing accreditation was difficult, she congratulated her fellow graduates for persevering and not giving up.

She shared her experience pursuing her qualification.

“For me excelling in school wasn’t always a given. I faced moments of frustration or even failure that made me question if I could succeed.There were times when balancing school, family and personal struggles felt overwhelming. The fear of failure and disappointing those I cared about the most seemed to overpower everything else. But it was in those moments that I learned what excelling purely means.

“Excelling in school is often seen as a result of natural talent but what I’ve learned is that it’s about so much more. It’s not about perfection. It’s about perseverance, it’s about showing up every day even when it feels impossible,” she said. 

Close to 300 students graduated from the institution. 

Hall and two other students-Rynell Weekes and Jenita Clarke- received special wards for their academic performance. 

The theme of the graduation ceremony was: Embracing Technology, Empowering the Future. (SZB)