The third cohort of the Support for Education and Training (SET) programme 2017 Awards ceremony was held on Friday 2nd, June 2017 at the Methodist Church Hall. The ceremony also featured the introduction of the fourth cohort.
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance The Hon. Dr Ralph Gonsalves delivered the feature address and urged groups three and four to identify their strengths and weaknesses; capitalising on the possibilities while reducing their limitations.
The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of using circumstances as a tool to advancement.
In highlighting the strides made in the education revolution, Prime Minister Gonsalves pointed out developments in the health sector – where first world health care from birth to age 17 is offered free of charge, with a significant contribution made by the World Pediatric Project’.
Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary, Kattian Barnwell in providing statistics on the programme indicated that the SET program began in March 2014 and since then it has more than 600 persons up to this current cohort, which now has a total of 140 young people.
Barnwell disclosed that an effective and efficient support system is necessary to aid participant’s growth and development is fundamental to the programme’s success.
The SET program is geared at providing a platform for recent graduates of recognised universities and the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College with relevant work experience within the public sector and related agencies. The program which lasts for one year also sets the stage for future employment.
The SET program is funded by Petro Caribe and Prime Minister Gonsalves in his remarks also thanked the Venezuelan government for their support especially during this period.