By KATHRYN CAMPBELL
NASSAU, Bahamas (BIS) – Web Design and Diving/Fishing are two of the new disciplines to which trainees in Cohort 10 of the National Training Agency (NTA) will be introduced during a 14-week programme that got underway on Monday, June 24, 2019 with an orientation exercise.
The trainees will also be introduced to soft, practical and technical skills in fields of Allied Health Care, Information Technology, Housekeeping, Microsoft Office, Food and Beverage and Butler Service.
NTA Executive Director Gadville McDonald said the objective is to train the students to be able to contribute to the success of the companies that employ them.
Noting that NTA is “a competency-based organization,” Mr. McDonald said, “Over the last 4-5 years we’ve trained more than 5,000 young Bahamians. Over the last 2 years we’ve trained more than 1600 young Bahamians for the workplace.”
He added, “We’ve not only trained these individuals but we’ve been able to place more than 55% of them into the workplace. They are now fully employed, contributing to their own lives and to the organizations that they are a part of.
“This is the place where we train you for success in the workplace. We’ve been intentional over the last few years of training young Bahamians to take advantage of opportunities in the workplace. This is not an ordinary training environment. This is an assimilated work environment. When you leave here your future employers expect you to be prepared to contribute to the success of their organization on day one.”
Two hundred students between the ages of 16 and 30 are enrolled in this cohort, 35 of whom have enrolled in the Diving/Fishing program, which is in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Science. Two of the students are females.
During the first four weeks, emphasis will be placed on soft skills and students will be assessed on having the right attitude, temperament and mindset.
“Some of you may be thinking it is an opportunity to get a job,” said Mr. McDonald. “It is an opportunity to get a job, but you have to impress us that you are ready. Our industry leaders are telling us that many of the persons who are coming into their workplace don’t have the right attitude. We’ve been improving our soft skills curriculum to make sure you’re ready for the workplace.”
Declaring that NTA has “done our job in the past,” Mr. McDonald assured the students that “we are going to do our job with you. The question is will you do your part? Will you participate? Will you be focused? Will you fulfill the assignments that you will be given?”
“Throughout the length and breadth of this programme we will be assessing you,” he added. “We have presenters, we have assessors, we have trainers, and they are going to be watching you. The attitudes you display in four weeks upfront and in 10 weeks on technical skills are going to be important. Every journey begins with the first step. Today you’ve taken that first step. We’re going to partner with you to make the steps to take you towards the goals that you’ve set.”
