New Developments in Technical and Vocational Education in the Caribean

Abstract

Keynote address delivered by the Minister of Education and Culture in Barbados at the opening of a conference on 12 March 1986, at the Commonwealth Institute, London.

In social democratic states industrial development envisages a collaborative role between technical vocational training, technological innovation and enterprise in the production of goods and services. It is against this background that I shall speak of some of the efforts and achievements of governments in the Caribbean region to promote technical and vocational education as a means of underlining their development policies. I shall also examine some of the pertinent issues on which there must be continuing discussion and dialogue if we are to achieve our objectives.

I shall be drawing on regional experiences to illustrate my arguments. However, since I have been intimately associated with the Barbados situation I shall crave your indulgence if I appear to cite a few cases of my own country's achievements.