The Government of Grenada, through the Ministry of Education, officially launched the OECS Skills & Innovation Project (SKIP) on March 11, 2025, at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George.
SKIP is intended to enhance the competence of post-secondary youth by enhancing skills education, targeting TAMCC and NEWLO as its key demographic. The project is a regional collaboration funded by a World Bank USD $6 million grant and executed by the OECS Commission. The participating countries of Grenada and Saint Lucia will utilise individual loans of USD 15 million to implement the project.
Speaking virtually at the launch, OECS representative Lisa Sargusingh-Terrance said, “Emphasising skills development ensures that graduates from TAMCC and NEWLO are equipped with the competencies required by employers, making the labour force adaptable and responsive to market demands.”
The OECS Commission, through its Education Development Management Unit (EDMU), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training of Saint Lucia and the Ministry of Education in Grenada, has conceptualised the OECS Skills and Innovation Project (SKIP).
Sargusingh-Terrance said, “We have observed that the private sector investment in innovation remains low across the OECS region, and we want to make a special appeal now to encourage the private sector in Grenada to join efforts with the OECS SKIP to provide the needed opportunities for our youth.”
Permanent Secretary with responsibility for Human Resources and Educational Development Elvis Morain said SKIP is a bold commitment to expanding skills and innovation and investing in modern equipment. “If we are serious about transforming our education system, about preparing our young people for real opportunities in the world of work, then we must start with a clear vision as to what success looks like for us. What does success look like?… it looks like Grenadians are using skills, building careers, starting businesses and shaping our nation’s future,” he said.
Detailing areas SKIP is expected to develop, Senior Economist, Education Global Practice, at the World Bank, Victoria Levin, said, “It is also about fostering advanced skills that are demanded by Grenada’s private sector, as well as global and regional labour markets. Finally, it is about building
innovation ecosystems that will allow Grenada and other Eastern Caribbean countries to diversify their economies and create new opportunities in sectors such as renewable energy, smart and sustainable tourism, the blue economy, health sciences and creative industries.”
NEWLO student Ariea Modeste, who is studying food preparation and cookery, is excited about SKIP. She said, “I’m definitely most looking forward to the renovation of property, most likely getting more equipment so that we can be able to gravitate towards improving the skills training that we need.”
World Bank Senior Economist, Finance, Competitiveness & Innovation and Global Practice Officer, Monica Parra Torrado zoned in on why innovation, a focal area of SKIP, is key.
“Innovation is the main driver of economic growth. It boosts productivity and ensures prosperity. It allows countries to generate more high-quality jobs and enable economic diversification and integration with global markets.”
Marketing manager and job placement officer at NEWLO, Dale Neptune, is confident that SKIP will make a positive impact at NEWLO.
“The Skills and Innovation Project couldn’t come at a more opportune time for us at NEWLO. As we’ve recorded over the years, especially in the last two years with the free tuition programme from the government, we have had almost a 200 per cent increase in people applying to NEWLO.,” Neptune said. “So, for NEWLO, this is a huge jump for us in all of the different areas, because we wanted to do these areas before.”
Sargusingh-Terrance said, “It’s very important to say a special thank you to the World Bank group and all education partners for their support in improving the lives of the people in the OECS region.”
The National Project Coordinator of SKIP in Grenada, Jessie Cumberbatch; officials and students from TAMCC and NEWLO; and representatives from the Grenada Investment Development Corporation (GIDC) were among those present at the launch.
Be the first to comment