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The COVID 19 pandemic and the resulting accelerated use of digital technologies is changing the way we live and work. These developments have the potential to drive technical and vocational education and training (TVET) systems to improve their ability to identify future skills needs and to widen access to opportunities for skills development. Schools, training centres and universities play a leading role in promoting innovation in their local skills and innovation ecosystem.

The Education Sector of the UNESCO Cluster Office for the Caribbean, together with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information of Jamaica, invited TVET teachers, trainers and directors of training institutions in Jamaica to identify new challenges and opportunities for the TVET sector to sustainably address the structural weaknesses and gaps revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic in order to ensure continuity of learning and skills development. Nearly 400 TVET managers took part in the virtual workshop "Strategies for continuing Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Jamaica" on Thursday, 19 November 2020, from 3 to 6 pm, virtually via zoom.

In her introductory remarks, Dr. Winsome Gordon, CEO, Jamaica Teaching Council, MOEYI Jamaica, gave an overview of the current situation of TVET programmes in Jamaica. She opened the following discussions to explore the availability of tools, resources and materials available to ensure the continuity of TVET training programmes during the pandemic, as well as ways to explore synergies between sectors and entities. Keynote presentations were brought by Mr. Ramon Iriarte, UNESCO Programme Specialist for TVET Education at the UNESCO Regional Office for Education in Latin America and the Caribbean, Santiago and Ms. Pauline Whiteman, CEO Caribbean Association of National Training Agencies (CANTA).

Breakout sessions where moderated by Mr. Denworth Finnikin, Director, Center of Occupational Studies, MoEYI Jamaica, Dr. Everton Lewis, Senior Lecturer and Programme Director, Technical University of Jamaica, Mr. Ramon Iriarte, Programme Specialist TVET Education UNESCO OREALC, Santiago and Dr. Marcia Rowe Amonde, Senior Director for TVET Development and Support Systems at the HEART Trust NTA. The group sessions explored different elements for TVET: Identifying approaches, tools/ resources for distance education; Teachers’ Professional Development in TVET; Use of ICT and New Technology in TVET; and Strengthening stakeholder collaboration – parents, industry, private-public partnerships.

In subsequent plenary, the groups reported the challenges and recommended strategies to build a more resilient TVET sector. Participants identified limited access to resources and the transition to digital learning as the main challenges for skills development in the post-pandemic world. While some teachers stated that they have adapted quickly to the new digital learning environment, they still find it difficult to reach their students. Teachers unanimously agreed that since the outbreak of the pandemic in Jamaica, they have a greater workload.

As part of the discussion on how to build more resilient TVET systems, teachers requested active participation in the development of TVET programmes and giving them access to up-to-date technology to implement the programmes. While there is agreement that teachers and students need access to data, another key to a sustainable TVET infrastructure that has been discussed is a stronger network between and across sectors, including the private sector, to finance apprenticeships, grants and resources, including hardware and internet access. Parents also have a key role to play in supporting their children in the new learning environment and in building a parental support mechanism with other parents and teachers. The 4-hour workshop was concluded by Dr. Kasan Troupe, Acting Chief Education Officer, MoEYI Jamaica, who announced the Ministry's efforts to respond to COVID-19, such as providing tablets to students who are in need of support.

The Education Sector of the UNESCO Cluster Office led by Faryal Khan, together with the MOEYI Jamaica will continue to work in close collaboration to support the TVET system in Jamaica and leaving no one behind.