Significant Skills Support and Digital Transformation

otable developments in these areas were:   

HEART/NSTA Trust 

• Tuition and administrative fees for programmes up to level four (associate degree) were waived on April 1. 

• Enrolment increased by 19 per cent. 

• Between January and Nov-ember, 119,641 students were enrolled, with 46,403 gaining certification. 

• 11,362 adult learners were enrolled under the High School Diploma Equivalency (HSDE) programme, with 3,147 adults being certified.  

• 7,653 persons were placed in short and long-term employment. 

• 44 trainee start-ups were approved for funding in the amount of $13 million. 

• 85 instructors were trained in emerging and labour market demand areas,          including drone technology, optoelectronics, wall and floor tiling and forklift       operation. 

• Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) scholarships were provided to 123 beneficiaries. 

• 300 taxi drivers trained in customer service, occupational health and safety, conflict resolution, compliance with the rules and regulations of the traffic control system, performing vehicle inspection and accident-emergency procedures. 

• HEART, in support of the Social Housing Programme, constructed and handed over seven homes to beneficiaries under the Tiny House Initiative.  

• Four Centres of Excellence and two STEAM Labs opened at HEART institutions, in response to the growing trend towards       automation within all industries, including smart manufacturing, cloud computing, artificial intelligence and the Internet of things. 

Minister Without Portfolio with Responsibility for Skills and Digital Transformation, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon (left), speaks with members of Jamaica’s team, which copped gold in the Robotics Olympics, which took place in Singapore from October 7 to 10. Minister Morris Dixon met with the members during a courtesy call at Jamaica House on October 31.

LIFT 

• Launch of  $2-billion Learning and Investment for Transformation (LIFT) programme that will benefit 2,500 students over the next five years. 

• The initiative targets fifth- and sixth-form graduates and provides sustainable avenues for education, employment and assimilation into society. 

Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with oversight for Skills and Digital Transformation, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon (left), examines a robotic device being held by Instructor, HEART/NSTA Trust, Dihanroy Mitchell, during the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) Symposium on Digital Transformation and Upskilling of the Labour Force, at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston on November 9.

Digitisation 

• Digital Jamaica, a €9.5-million programme aimed at increasing access to and use of information and communications technologies (ICT) to support the country’s transition to a digital economy and society was launched 

• 10 post offices have been modified to serve as National Identification System (NIDS) enrolment centres.