Training grant signals shift in valuing skilled trades

The government is moving to elevate technical and vocational skills to equal footing with academic study, as a new tertiary construction grant, launched on Friday, aimed at positioning tradespeople at the centre of economic transformation, according to Minister of Training and Tertiary Education Sandra Husbands.

The first cohort of recipients of the inaugural Tertiary Construction Grant Awards were celebrated in the Media Resource Department Auditorium at the Ministry of Educational Transformation, Constitution Road. The minister praised the awardees for choosing pathways that remain essential to Barbados’ economic future.

The Tertiary Construction Grant funds full-time training in carpentry, masonry, electrical installation, plumbing, tiling and welding through the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI) and the Barbados Vocational Training Board. Husbands described the initiative as a “watershed moment”, explaining that the ministry designed it to bring technical and vocational education up to world-class standards.

She said the country had neglected too many children for too long. “At least 40 per cent of our school population graduates with passes in two or fewer subjects,” she said. “That says not that our children cannot learn, but that we have not created the type of educational system that helps everyone to learn. We have failed this generation. We’ve underserved you.”

Husbands told the gathering that Barbados could no longer afford to view vocational training as a second-tier option. The country, she stressed, needed a national mindset shift.

“For too long the skills trade has never been valued or promoted or accepted or celebrated in the way it should be,” she said. “People are born with different skill sets, and all of the skill sets are necessary for life.

“Trades are critical to our built environment, critical to the growth and development of economies, critical for contributing to the overall development of our nation.”

The minister linked this shift to the ongoing building boom. With nine hotels slated for construction, Barbados will need between 7 000 and 9 000 construction workers and nearly 10 000 hotel workers. “We have to take advantage of this opportunity because this is what is going to give Barbados the quality of life it wants to offer its citizens,” she said.

Husbands acknowledged that some may eventually leave for overseas markets but added: “We’re hoping to keep you home as long as we can.”

She urged the recipients to embrace lifelong learning, noting that education could not be treated as something that “begins at five years old and ends at 16”. The pace of global change, she said, demands constant upgrading.

“I continue to learn … I’ve completed two degrees, but I’m now taking Spanish and I will be taking AI,” she said, illustrating that every Barbadian — regardless of age — must stay current. “If we are to remain relevant, if we are to remain employable, everyone must recognise you must continuously learn.”

A major highlight was her announcement of a modern welding plant to be built at SJPI — a move intended to meet rising international demand. She noted that welders in Guyana could earn “close to $3 000 a day”, underscoring how far technical skills can take young people who are willing to master their craft.

The recipients of the grants — Khaliah Barker, Faden Blackman, Duane Burnett, Mateo Butcher and Dariko Kellman of SJPI, and Gandanai Johnson and Tiffany Kinch of the BVTB — said the grant represented both opportunity and validation.

Tiffany Kinch, one of the women in the programme, said her journey into the trades began while helping a family member. “I got into construction with a friend,” she said, explaining that instead of relying solely on hands-on guidance, she wanted formal training. “Instead of them teaching me, I want the actual qualification, so I applied.”

She said she discovered real enjoyment in the field and intended to keep climbing the ladder the minister described. “After studying, I’m going to continue studying and work towards building my business … and have a construction community,” she said. When asked about adding welding to her skill set, she laughed: “I just said it because she said it was making money. But if welding comes out, I will do it — ’cause I love learning.”

Faden Blackman, studying carpentry and joinery, said he chose the trade because it allows him to create and contribute. “Not only is it an occupation that is needed within the island, but you can create stuff … not only for yourself, but for individuals in your community,” he said. A clearly passionate student, he described himself as creative and eager to understand “the inner workings” of the craft. “My plans next are to continue my education … and see where it takes me,” he added.

The minister also appealed to the private sector to support the initiative by adopting trainees and offering more mentorship. “There will be a need for mentors and coaches,” she said. “We want mature tradesmen to provide young people with the support to fully develop their skills.” (LE)