‘Skilled workers in short supply?’

THE EDITOR: It was reported that the Hon Prime Minister recently announced that “Trinidad and Tobago would leap ahead of its Caricom partners and unilaterally widen the categories of regional workers who can be employed in this country without a work permit, to include skilled construction workers.” He said “masons and carpenters among other skilled construction workers will be targeted since they are in short supply in this country.”

The question arises, why are masons, carpenters and other skilled workers in short supply? More than thirty years ago, the late Dr Eric Williams introduced the model of the senior comprehensive schools to address this very problem.

The educational trust then, was intended to channel students who were less academically inclined into the technical and vocational areas, with a view of preparing them for the world of work.

The senior comprehensive schools’ curriculum was designed to accommodate electrical, technical drawing, masonry, plumbing, carpentry, auto-mechanics, welding and refridgeration as major components of the schools’ programme.

The senior comprehensive schools were complemented with technical and vocational schools to increase output in the technical and vocational areas. Is the Prime Minister now saying to the nation that after thirty years, we have failed to produce students with the necessary technical and vocational skills to meet the demands of our society? This is certainly an indictment on the educational system and educational policy that was introduced by the late Prime Minister, Dr Eric Williams.

IMAAM IQBAL HYDAL (Bsc, Dip Ed)
Retired Teacher
Chaguanas