The Ministry of Education’s TVET Fair & Exposition concluded today after two days of placing the spotlight on the power and potential of technical and vocational education.
Held at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre, under the theme “Empowering Youths, Elevating Skills,” the event drew students, parents, and jobseekers eager to explore hands-on career pathways in fields that are critical to Guyana’s future development.
Throughout the expo, attendees engaged directly with educators, industry experts, and training institutions offering insight into real-world careers. Alyce Camrom, an instructor at the E.R. Burrowes School of Art, sees the expo as a vital platform to break outdated stereotypes about the arts. She explained that while many associate visual arts with just drawing and painting, the school also offers courses in photography, textiles, and fashion—creative areas that can lead to stable employment. “We want to bring awareness to visual arts and show students that they can actually earn a living with art,” she said. “There are different avenues to build a career, and it’s about shedding light on that.”
The importance of agriculture was also in focus, with Cletus Hiles, an Agricultural Science teacher at Good Hope Secondary School, speaking passionately about its relevance to national food security. Surrounded by student-grown crops like purple cabbage, banana suckers, and passionfruit, he explained that agriculture must no longer be seen as outdated or secondary. “Agriculture is the foremost basis of food security, and training in this area is critical,” he said. “With rising populations and the impact of climate change, this knowledge must be shared more widely. It’s become an essential practice in every household.” For Hiles, teaching agriculture is not just a job but a commitment to equipping the next generation with life-sustaining skills.
In another corner of the expo, Gregory Cummings, a member of the Guyana Police Force and a student at the Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School, spoke about how aviation is expanding career options through TVET. “Aviation is a practical field that allows for global expansion,” he said. “The safety of air travel depends on trained aircraft maintenance technicians, and that’s exactly what we’re learning here—through theoretical, practical, and on-the-job training.” His enthusiasm was clear as he described how his experience has deepened his passion for aircraft and opened up a world of professional possibilities.
Meanwhile, technology and innovation were on full display as the Ministry’s own TVET Unit showcased a robotics demonstration led by Education Officer Rocky Persaud. Using Arduino kits with ultrasonic sensors, Persaud illustrated how secondary school students will soon be exposed to radar and obstacle-detection systems through robotics clubs launching in September. “Technology is on the rise, and we believe students should be more involved,” he said. “These kits allow them to learn about robotics and critical systems early on, giving them a head start in the world of innovation.”
From art studios to science booths, from engineering displays to plant nurseries, the TVET Expo gave Guyanese youth a first-hand look at the possibilities ahead and the tools to build their future.
