Minister to revive BTVI partnership

The Minister of Labour has pledged to revive his ministry's partnership with the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI), in a bid to improve its graduates' employment prospects.

Dion Foulkes was speaking after BTVI's president, Dr Robert W. Robertson, and members of his senior management team paid a courtesy call on the Minister.

Mr Foulkes emphasised his ministry's drive to give qualified Bahamians first preference when employers are seeking work permits for foreign labour.

The BTVI team and the Minister discussed various investments, partnerships and the institution's initiatives, including the goal of offering City and Guilds Level 3 certifications. These will initially target engineering, with the intention of expanding to other trade areas.

Mr Foulkes was briefed on new programmes such as human resources management, entrepreneurship, natural and protective hair styling and several information technology studies, including a fully online course.

Dr Robertson expressed BTVI's gratitude for the organisations that continue to support students with scholarship donations, in addition to the apprenticeship partnership with the Grand Bahama Shipyard.

He stressed the confidence industry has in BTVI's training to the extent that graduates are sought after by major companies seeking to hire them before they complete their studies.