Training for unattached youth at renovated Red Hills Skills Centre
The Red Hills Skills Training Centre in St Andrew has been renovated at a cost of $3 million and will now offer unattached youth four skill-based courses through partnership with the HEART Trust/NTA.
The refurbishing was under-taken through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which provides members of parliament with financial resources to execute approved social and economic programmes within their constituencies.
The four courses that will be offered are electrical installation, webpage design, housekeeping, and customer engagement operation (business process outsourcing).
Member of Parliament for St Andrew West Rural Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, in her remarks at the reopening on Thursday, said the facility would enable young people to receive skills training and certification in order to become employable.
TUITION GRANTS
Cuthbert-Flynn said that 150 students in St Andrew West Rural had benefited from tuition grants to pursue higher education through the CDF.
Acting senior manager of special projects and community training, HEART Trust/NTA, Elizabeth Danvers, said that Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) classes in mathematics and English language would also be offered at the centre.
Based on assessment, students will be encouraged to do another course for their personal development.
"These courses will be offered through the National Unattached Youth Programme. We are looking [at] and anticipating future partnerships, [and] we hope this facility will be fully utilised in the years to come," Danvers said.
She indicated that orientation for classes would be held on September 11 at the nearby Red Hills Methodist Church and is appealing for unattached youth to attend and register for courses.
Danvers encouraged residents to "spread the word to your friends, persons you see sitting on the street [and] not doing anything. Encourage them to be a part of this wonderful facility".