Immediate jobs for over 1,400 ‘GROW’ scholarship graduates
-Pres. Ali lists employment opportunities in hospitality, teaching, nursing sectors
By Lazeena Yearwood
President Dr Irfaan Ali on Tuesday encouraged this year’s graduating batch of the Get Ready for Opportunities to Work (GROW) scholarship programme to take up immediate jobs that are available in the hospitality, teaching and nursing sectors.
Dr Ali delivered the feature address at the graduation ceremony for the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 batches at the National Cultural Centre in Georgetown, where he announced that these 1,406 persons will have immediate jobs in these sectors.
“All who are now thinking to move into the profession of nursing, today, if you go to the two ministers and say “We want to do nursing”, we will register you before the end of this month.
“You have now achieved that which is the requirement. All those of you who want to move to teaching or caregiving, we will put you onto programmes that will allow you to secure a job,” Dr Ali committed.
He added that those who want to go into the hospitality sector will also get access to training after which jobs will be available. There was a booth set up at the Cultural Centre for the graduates to sign up.
The President also reminded the graduates that in working towards their dream jobs, they must use every opportunity at their disposal, noting that these options were not available to the older generations, hence they must not be wasted.
“You can’t just sit back and wait for your dream job or perfect job. That is not how the developed world operates. You have to enter the workforce and start to build experience by working and earning,” the President told the graduates.
Meanwhile, Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag encouraged the graduates to use this opportunity to not only seek employment but further their studies as well.
“Whether it be a PHD or a degree, we will ensure that we hold your hand through it and we will ensure that you overcome hurdles,” Minister Parag said. The GROW scholarships are part of the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL) programme.
The graduates acquired their Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Level 6 diploma from the Jain University, in India. This diploma will allow them to enrol in Bachelor’s Degree programmes in Humanities, Commerce, Business and Management; Computer Science and Information Technology at the university or any other university accepting SCQF’s qualifications.
Already, several universities have indicated that using this diploma, persons are eligible for degree programmes. Some 89 per cent of the graduates have already been enrolled for Bachelor’s Degree programmes.
Education Minister, Priya Manickchand; Director of Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), Dr Jacob Opadeyi and other officials were also in attendance at Tuesday’s ceremony.
