The Government of Grenada, through the Ministry\u00a0 of Education, officially launched the OECS Skills & Innovation Project (SKIP) on March 11, 2025,\u00a0 at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium, St. George.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0 funded by a World Bank USD $6 million grant and executed by the OECS Commission. The\u00a0 participating countries of Grenada and Saint Lucia will utilise individual loans of USD 15 million to\u00a0 implement the project.<\/p>\n
Speaking virtually at the launch, OECS representative Lisa Sargusingh-Terrance said, \u201cEmphasising\u00a0 skills development ensures that graduates from TAMCC and NEWLO are equipped with the\u00a0 competencies required by employers, making the labour force adaptable and responsive to market\u00a0 demands.\u201d<\/p>\n
The OECS Commission, through its Education Development Management Unit (EDMU), in\u00a0 collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science,\u00a0 Technology and Vocational Training of Saint Lucia and the Ministry of Education in Grenada, has\u00a0 conceptualised the OECS Skills and Innovation Project (SKIP).<\/p>\n
Sargusingh-Terrance said, \u201cWe have observed that the private sector investment in innovation\u00a0 remains low across the OECS region, and we want to make a special appeal now to encourage the\u00a0 private sector in Grenada to join efforts with the OECS SKIP to provide the needed opportunities for\u00a0 our youth.\u201d<\/p>\n
Permanent Secretary with responsibility for Human Resources and Educational Development Elvis\u00a0 Morain said SKIP is a bold commitment to expanding skills and innovation and investing in modern\u00a0 equipment. \u201cIf we are serious about transforming our education system, about preparing our young\u00a0 people for real opportunities in the world of work, then we must start with a clear vision as to what\u00a0 success looks like for us. What does success look like?\u2026 it looks like Grenadians are using skills,\u00a0 building careers, starting businesses and shaping our nation\u2019s future,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Detailing areas SKIP is expected to develop, Senior Economist, Education Global Practice, at the\u00a0 World Bank, Victoria Levin, said, \u201cIt is also about fostering advanced skills that are demanded by\u00a0 Grenada\u2019s private sector, as well as global and regional labour markets. Finally, it is about building<\/p>\n
innovation ecosystems that will allow Grenada and other Eastern Caribbean countries to diversify\u00a0 their economies and create new opportunities in sectors such as renewable energy, smart and\u00a0 sustainable tourism, the blue economy, health sciences and creative industries.\u201d<\/p>\n
NEWLO student Ariea Modeste, who is studying food preparation and cookery, is excited about\u00a0 SKIP. She said, \u201cI\u2019m definitely most looking forward to the renovation of property, most likely\u00a0 getting more equipment so that we can be able to gravitate towards improving the skills training that\u00a0 we need.\u201d<\/p>\n
World Bank Senior Economist, Finance, Competitiveness & Innovation and Global Practice Officer,\u00a0 Monica Parra Torrado zoned in on why innovation, a focal area of SKIP, is key.<\/p>\n
\u201cInnovation is the main driver of economic growth. It boosts productivity and ensures prosperity. It\u00a0 allows countries to generate more high-quality jobs and enable economic diversification and\u00a0 integration with global markets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marketing manager and job placement officer at NEWLO, Dale Neptune, is confident that SKIP will\u00a0 make a positive impact at NEWLO.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Skills and Innovation Project couldn\u2019t come at a more opportune time for us at NEWLO. As\u00a0 we\u2019ve recorded over the years, especially in the last two years with the free tuition programme from\u00a0 the government, we have had almost a 200 per cent increase in people applying to NEWLO.,\u201d\u00a0 Neptune said. \u201cSo, for NEWLO, this is a huge jump for us in all of the different areas, because we\u00a0 wanted to do these areas before.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sargusingh-Terrance said, \u201cIt\u2019s very important to say a special thank you to the World Bank group\u00a0 and all education partners for their support in improving the lives of the people in the OECS region.\u201d<\/p>\n
The National Project Coordinator of SKIP in Grenada, Jessie Cumberbatch; officials and students\u00a0 from TAMCC and NEWLO; and representatives from the Grenada Investment Development\u00a0 Corporation (GIDC) were among those present at the launch.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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