© UNESCO-UNEVOC

A select group of TVET principals and managers recently gathered in Kingston, Jamaica to put the finishing touches on their plans for harnessing open and distance learning (ODL) to improve education provision at TVET institutions in the Caribbean. The five-day workshop, for participants from Jamaica, was the final activity of a programme implemented by UNESCO-UNEVOC together with the Commonwealth of Learning, Canada, aimed at equipping people to become leaders in ODL for TVET.

From 5-9 December 2022, participants at the workshop developed institutional strategies and action plans for implementing ODL at their centres. Attending in person allowed them to share their experiences and receive hands-on support from course facilitator Clover Barnett. There was plenty of new knowledge and skills on offer. “I have learnt the importance of the process of strategic and action planning and self-reflection,” said one participant. Another described the process as “an eye-opener”, adding “with change there is fear about moving forward, but I learnt that I can be empowered to make changes”. By the final session, the participants reported feeling “empowered” and “encouraged” to continue this work and set the strategic direction for implementing ODL in their institutions.

Latoya Swaby-Anderson, National Education Officer at the UNESCO Kingston Cluster Office for the Caribbean, joined one of the knowledge sharing sessions with participants. The workshop also provided an opportunity for participants to discuss their plans with officials from the Jamaican education authorities. Presenting attendees with course completion certificates, Kasan Troupe, Chief Education Officer at Jamaica’s Ministry of Education and Youth, confirmed the ministry will be following up on the action plans with schools and principals.

The event formed part of a wider, four-part programme delivered online to TVET leaders and administrators throughout the Caribbean during October and November 2022. The programme has been organized by UNESCO-UNEVOC and the Commonwealth of Learning in partnership with the Jamaican Ministry of Education and Youth. It is supporting senior TVET staff in learning how they can use new online, hybrid and blended learning models to improve the quality of TVET provision in the region and make it more easily accessible, especially to women, girls and people with disabilities.

This activity comes under UNESCO-UNEVOC’s Building TVET resilience for a just and sustainable transition project. With funding from GIZ, it is providing TVET stakeholders with targeted support for capacity building and technical assistance. Launched earlier this year, the initiative is helping build the strength and resilience of TVET systems, institutions and students as part of the pandemic recovery process as well as improve their ability to withstand disruptions in future. Over its duration, the project is encouraging TVET stakeholders in around 15 countries to adopt resilient approaches to planning, designing and implementing training relating to digital delivery, greening TVET and entrepreneurial learning.