Introduction

The role of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council is to establish standards and qualifications for technical and vocational education and training as mandated by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Act, 1993-11 of the Laws of Barbados. Find out more about the Council and its development of national vocational qualifications on this page. You can also examine the challenges  facing the TVET system.

TVET Council uses UK model to develop NVQs

In 1998, the Council began developing national vocational qualifications (NVQs) based on occupational standards. The system used closely follows the model in the U.K., which is seen as an international benchmark for models in Australia, Chile, New Zealand, South Africa, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. 

The recommended framework for Occupational Standards and National Vocational Qualifications in Barbados follows the UK model closely for several reasons 

• The United Kingdom is the first English speaking nation to develop a comprehensive system of vocational qualifications based on occupational standards 

• Within the Caribbean, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago have also followed the UK template These countries have drawn on elements of the UK system in developing their own unique approach to occupational standards  

• In contrast to North America, the UK system is comprehensive and uniform, with rigorous built-in quality assurance arrangement The system has also been in place for over 12 years and is considered to be a success by industry 

• The UK has benefited from a comprehensive review and the lessons learnt have led to improvements in the system These experiences are valuable to countries implementing a national vocational qualifications system  

Creation of lead bodies

In the first half of 1999, three Industry Lead Bodies were created to define occupational standards in the Tourism and Hospitality, Information Technology and Customer Service sectors. These groups received initial training in the processes and methodologies for developing occupational standards, and after analysis of their sectors, validated standards available from other sources and/or developed their own.     

These standards have been approved by the Council and the next step is to have them packaged into NVQs by an Awarding Body working in partnership with the Lead Bodies.  The qualifications will then be made available to candidates through a training institution or the candidate's workplace. 

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The Challenge - A Worldclass Workforce 

The new century continues to pose new and increasing challenges for the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system in Barbados. 

• The CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). This will allow the free movement of capital and people within Caribbean economies meaning that our training system must be able to produce a workforce which is skilled and adaptable. For more on the CSME visit www.caricom.org 

• The demand for a skilled workforce is increasing and will continue to do so as a result of globalization, technological advances and changes in the organization of work.

How will the TVET system respond to these challenges? Competency-based education and training is one key response. NVQs based on occupational standards send a clear signal that individuals can perform to the level required in the particular role.  

To produce a worldclass workforce, the establishment of occupational standards and NVQs must be the way forward for the TVET system in Barbados.

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