Oct 20, 2026
3 min read
Ninety-six teachers have earned Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQs) through the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) as demand grows for skilled workers.
Education Minister Sonia Parag said technical and vocational education and training (TVET) is on the rise globally, and challenged the view that it is inferior to academic qualifications.
“Oftentimes when we think about technical and vocational skills, there is still somewhat of a stigma attached to that, in the sense that people see it as a lesser skill than academic qualifications. And I can stand here firmly, boldly and tell you that TVET is on the rise globally,” Parag said.
She stressed that the qualifications also equip the teachers to pass practical knowledge to students preparing to enter the workforce.
“It’s also not lesser than an academic qualification because it prepares you. It equips you,” the Minister explained. “It equips you with the competencies, but in your case, it’s equipped you to pass on that knowledge and those competencies to those who will go out into the world of employment.”
That need for skills, Parag noted, is behind the Government's plan to expand TVET across all 10 administrative regions over the next five years.
“We need these skills. Everywhere you look, you need technical skills and we have a shortage of technical skills. This is not something that’s a secret. Because of the rapid pace at which we’re going, we cannot train persons fast enough,” she added.
The teachers earned their certification through CPCE, whose Principal Noella Joseph described the programme as a significant milestone for a college that has expanded beyond its traditional role in teacher education. Her remarks were delivered on her behalf at the ceremony.
“We are gathered not simply to present certificates, but to celebrate the successful introduction of a new programme and the achievement of the students who embraced this opportunity,” Joseph said.
She explained that CVQs emerged from a regional initiative to strengthen TVET across the Caribbean Community, providing a framework for recognising practical competencies against established occupational standards.
Deputy Chief Education Officer–Technical Dr Ritesh Tularam pointed out that those standards give the qualifications their value.
“The achievement of a CVQ represents a commitment to nationally and regionally recognised occupational standards. It demonstrates that an individual has acquired and can apply the practical skills, knowledge, and competencies required to perform effectively in a particular occupational area,” he said.
With the programme set to expand, he urged the teachers to continue developing professionally, apply competency-based training and assessment in their classrooms and mentor colleagues.
The programme has been phased in since 2023, when it became a mandatory part of the CPCE curriculum for students specialising in Agricultural Science, Industrial Technology, Home Economics and Visual Arts. That year, 121 TVET students across the college’s seven coastal centres were introduced to it.
To support delivery, 14 full-time and part-time lecturers took part in Competency-Based Education and Training in April 2023. The college began the process of becoming a registered CVQ institution in November 2024 and secured registration in June 2025, allowing it to register students directly for certification.
