The Commonwealth of Learning (COL) made a presentation at the Caribbean Association of National Training Authorities (CANTA) meeting held in St George’s, Grenada, from 7 – 8 November 2023, joining members of the Executive Committee of CANTA for a review of guidelines for the Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQ).

CANTA’s executive committee members from 12 Caribbean countries – Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad & Tobago – attended the meeting. Other participants included officials from the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC), Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Colleges & Institutes Canada’s Skills to Access the Green Economy (SAGE), ILO Office for the Caribbean and the CARICOM Secretariat.

In his opening remarks, Mr Henderson Eastmon, Chair of CANTA, reiterated the need to transform the education system to create pathways, diversify the qualifications developed, upgrade the workforce and include skills training from primary to tertiary education.

Mr Elvis Morain, Grenada’s Permanent Secretary for Education, emphasised the importance of recognising the currency of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) education. He also highlighted the necessity of upskilling Grenada’s workforce to align with the nation’s requirements.

COL’s ongoing partnership with CANTA was discussed during the meeting. Mr. Robert Okinda, COL’s Adviser: Skills, said that through this strategic partnership, CANTA reviewed its Guidelines and Criteria for awarding the CVQ and subsequently developed two occupational standards in the blue economy.

In line with COL’s strategy to strengthen skills training in TVET, the meeting deliberated strategies for developing, piloting and scaling courseware materials for use in the CANTA member countries, based on the two occupational standards.