National Training Agency undergoes review

The review team in session.

LAST week Wednesday a four-member team concluded a three-day mission in Grenada, the purpose of which was to conduct an external review of the National Training Agency (NTA) on behalf of the Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies (CANTA). 

The review team, led by Ms. Nicole Manning of HEART Trust/NTA-NCTVET Jamaica, conducted a number of interviews with senior NTA staff (in particular, the Chief Executive Officer and the Quality Assurance Co-ordinator) and other TVET officials associated with the National Training Agency. 

A statement from the NTA said that they also examined documents and other evidence related to quality assurance and standards development and approval including all manuals and reports; and visited approved training centres and other training institutions currently going through the process of centre approval. 

The evaluation is intended to determine the effectiveness of the systems, policies and procedures implemented by the NTA in keeping with the Quality Assurance Criteria and Guidelines for Caribbean Vocational Qualification of March 2009.  

The team will present their findings to CANTA at its next meeting in November. CANTA will then submit the report for further approval to the Regional Co-ordination Mechanism for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (RCM-TVET). The report will then be advanced for final approval to the CARICOM Council on Human and Social Development (COHSOD). 

The evaluation will determine Grenada’s readiness to grant Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQs). Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQs) are one of the features in the process towards achieving the free movement of certified skilled workers under the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).   

The statement said that the awarding of CVQ granting status to Grenada will mean that skilled and certified workers who successfully complete NTA training will be able to seek available employment opportunities in other CARICOM states with less difficulty. (LS)