WorldSkills Programme readying children for dynamic workforce

Developing technical and future-ready skills is critical if Barbados is to meet the demands of a rapidly changing global workforce.

That was the central message during Wednesday’s launch of the sixth annual WorldSkills Barbados Junior Future Skills Camp at the TVET Council in Hastings, Christ Church, where officials stressed the importance of exposing young people to modern industries and innovation from an early age.

Speaking at the launch, TVET Council’s Executive Director Henderson Eastmond said the programme continues to evolve to meet international industry trends while preparing Barbadian youth for emerging careers.

The camp, which began as an online initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, is geared towards students between the ages of 10 and 16 and introduces them to technical and vocational education and training pathways.

“This year participants will engage in areas such as cybersecurity and mobile app development through our partners from the Dominican Republic, advanced electronics, hands-on experiences in aerial robotics and 3D printing with local partners including Robot Adventures,” Eastmond said.

He added that the programme was intentionally designed to align with “global industry demand”, helping to position young people “at the forefront of innovation”.

Eastmond said organisers were seeing increasing participation and enthusiasm from students, many of whom yearned for a practical learning environment.

“Participants develop technical competencies ranging from cybersecurity awareness to robotics while also strengthening essential workplace skills such as communication, teamwork, and confidence,” he said.

He noted that beyond technical training, the camp was also helping to reshape how young people viewed their own potential.

“By engaging in practical skills-based activities, students begin to see themselves as capable, creative, and future ready,” Eastmond said, adding that many participants expressed greater interest in applying their new skills and pursuing entrepreneurship opportunities.

He explained that the camp also served as a gateway into broader opportunities, including the Global Training Centre, the WorldSkills Barbados Competition and the International WorldSkills Competition.

“This creates a seamless progression from early exposure to advanced training and global recognition,” Eastmond said.

Eastmond further revealed that the programme was beginning to attract regional attention, with organisations in Grenada and elsewhere expressing interest in adopting a similar model.

Meanwhile, Minister of Technological and Vocational Training Sandra Husbands said initiatives such as WorldSkills Barbados were essential in helping to build a stronger and more inclusive economy.

“Participation in WorldSkills helps to build a skills economy by shifting the emphasis from academics as the only path to success to a multi-path approach to success,” Husbands said.

She argued that technical skills were central to national development and economic growth, adding that the WorldSkills Barbados programme had grown into “a strategic national platform for workforce development and economic advancement”.

“The WorldSkills Programme matters to this country because of its potential impact to help the economy,” the minister added.

The camp will run from July 6 to August 21, and will be held at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI).

(SB)