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National Training Agency
(NTA)

UNEVOC Centre (National Body) since 2019

Established in 1999, the National Training Agency (NTA) serves as the single, national institution with full responsibility and authority for the planning, co-coordinating and regulation of technical and vocational education and training in Trinidad and Tobago. The NTA fulfills this mandate via:

i. The promotion of technical and vocational education and training,

ii. The identification of training needs based upon labour market research,

iii. The establishment and maintenance of national occupational standards for TVET,

iv. The establishment and maintenance of a national qualifications framework for TVET,

v. The development of a quality assurance and accreditation mechanism for TVET,

vi. Collaboration and consultation with relevant training institutions, professional bodies and employers,

vii. The rationalisation of skills training to minimise duplication and overlap,

viii. The development, maintenance and regulation of a system of apprenticeship and traineeship,

ix. The collaboration with stakeholders to develop and implement programmes or systems to encourage innovation, entrepreneurship, and the satisfaction of market demands, and

xi. Advising key stakeholders on matters related to TVET.

Overall, the NTA's role in education and training is to ensure that Trinidad and Tobago has a workforce that is certified, competent, innovative, enterprising and entrepreneurial, and capable of contributing to the continued development of Trinidad and Tobago.

Mission

To be a key facilitator for the development of a highly skilled, enterprising and globally competitive workforce, in support of the sustainable economic and social development of Trinidad and Tobago. Moreover, NTA aims to regulate and harmonise the quality, relevance and efficiency of the national TVET system.

Objectives

The objectives of the NTA are to

• Strengthen the national TVET landscape and programmes through close collaboration with key stakeholders to increase industry relevance, student access and portability of qualifications,
• Become a stronger knowledge-based leader in the TVET space and so facilitate improved programme delivery and alignment,
• Enhance the quality assurance and accreditation capacity in the TVET system of Trinidad and Tobago
• Conduct timely and relevant market driven and TVET research,
• Establish and promote national occupational standards,
• Develop and strengthen quality assurance mechanisms, and
• Improve the acceptance and attractiveness of TVET.

Regular tasks

• Formulate relevant TVET policies and plans,
• Establish management mechanisms for TVET development,
• Conduct labour market research,
• Set national occupational standards of competence,
• Develop National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs)
• Support the quality enhancement efforts of training providers,
• Establish Quality Management Systems for TVET providers,
• Promote and support the use of Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) systems, and
• Provide career guidance support and educational campaigns.

Focus and interest