Students pursuing technical and vocational education in Guyana are set to benefit from expanded practical training opportunities following the signing of two agreements between the Ministry of Education and private-sector companies operating in the construction and oil and gas industries.
The agreements, signed on Tuesday, will provide trainees from the New Amsterdam Technical Institute (NATI) and the Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC) with opportunities to gain workplace experience, develop industry-relevant skills and prepare for employment.
The Ministry of Education’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Unit formalised the partnerships through separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Raffik & Sons Construction Inc. and NTS Amega Atlantic Inc.
Under the first agreement, Raffik & Sons Construction Inc., which operates in Region Six, will accommodate NATI students pursuing studies in engineering, business and building-related fields.
The students will benefit from industrial attachments, internships, site visits, practical demonstrations and presentations designed to expose them to the daily operations of the construction industry.
The company will also collaborate with the technical institute to ensure that its training programmes reflect the qualifications and practical skills required by employers.
Meanwhile, the second agreement will see NTS Amega Atlantic Inc., a company serving Guyana’s oil and gas sector, providing industrial attachments for trainees enrolled at the Guyana Industrial Training Centre.
As part of that arrangement, participating students will receive tools, equipment and personal protective equipment to support their practical training.
The company has also committed to providing daily stipends and insurance coverage during the students’ industrial attachments.
Additionally, trainees will have opportunities to participate in workshops and guest lectures, allowing them to learn directly from industry professionals.
The agreements were signed during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Education’s boardroom at 26 Brickdam, Georgetown.
Among those participating in the signing were Deputy Chief Education Officer (Technical), Dr. Ritesh Tularam; Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Raffik & Sons Construction Inc., Naresh Sookoo; NATI Principal Fiona Rassoul; and GITC Administrator Dexter Cornette.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Tularam explained that the partnerships form part of the Ministry’s wider effort to strengthen collaboration between technical training institutions and private-sector employers.
He said the agreements are consistent with Guyana’s TVET policy, which promotes greater industry involvement in preparing students for employment.
“All these MoUs that the Ministry of Education would have endorsed, inclusive of the ones today, are in alignment with the TVET policy that speaks to fostering partnerships and collaboration with the private sector, ultimately with the intention of ensuring that our trainees are maximally engaged and exposed to real-life, practical, hands-on learning,” Tularam stated.
He emphasised that exposing students to actual workplace environments is essential to ensuring they are equipped to enter the labour market upon completing their programmes.
“So once they have completed their program, they can have that direct transition into the many emerging spaces that are enveloping this beautiful country of ours,” he added.
The latest agreements come as Guyana continues to experience growing demand for technically skilled workers, particularly in construction, engineering, manufacturing and the expanding oil and gas sector.
The Ministry has been pursuing additional partnerships with private companies throughout 2026 to strengthen the relationship between vocational institutions and industries requiring skilled labour.
The initiative is intended to complement classroom instruction with practical experience, while allowing employers to contribute to the development of training programmes that better reflect industry requirements.
For students, the arrangements are expected to provide valuable exposure to workplace standards, technical processes and professional environments before they complete their studies.
The Ministry of Education has welcomed the participation of Raffik & Sons Construction Inc. and NTS Amega Atlantic Inc., while encouraging other businesses to establish similar partnerships to support the development of Guyana’s skilled workforce.
