Africa-Press – Mauritius. A total of 344 participants, received, today, certificates, at the Salle des Fêtes, Plaza, after following several training programmes under the National Training and Reskilling Scheme (NTRS).
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Human Resource Development and Training, Mr Prem Pirthee; the Chairperson of the Mauritius Institute of Development and Training (MITD); Mr Harrykrishna Vydelingum; the Acting Director of the MITD, Mr Sayadaly Maudarbocus; and other personalities were present at the event.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Labour, Human Resource Development and Training, Mr Pirthee extended congratulations to all participants for their success.
He recalled that the NTRS is a key governmental measure announced in the 2021/2022 budget for the training and re-training of 6000 unemployed and redundant employees, of which 3000 will be trained by the MITD.
Eligible candidates will be given a monthly stipend of up to Rs 10,575, he indicated. The Permanent Secretary further pointed out that the NTRS has been extended to Rodrigues and eight courses have started since July 2022 at the Le Chou Centre.
Mr Pirthee also expressed satisfaction that some 1150 unemployed persons have been enrolled in the 28 courses identified by the MITD in key sectors including renewable energy and circular economy; food processing; medical care and devices; social care, construction; transport and logistics; e-commerce; and security and cleaning services.
The high number of participants receiving certificates today, he stated, demonstrates that people are increasingly recognising the NTRS as an alternative for their integration and re-integration into the labour market.
Highlighting the importance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training in the fight against unemployment and the major challenge of skills mismatch in the country, he dwelt on several measures put in place by Government.
They comprise an increase in the monthly allowance to apprentices from Rs 6000 to Rs 8000; waiving of examination fees for MITD students; introduction of the Employment Bonus with a monthly allowance of up to Rs 15 000 for the first year of employment for 10 000 young people aged between 18 to 35 and women under 50 years old.
Other programmes launched by the Ministry to enhance employability include the National Skills Development Programme; the Recognition of Prior Learning; and the National Apprenticeship Programme.
The Government is working with the private sector to put in place an effective system relevant to the labour market so as to increase access to potential trainees, he noted.
As for Mr Vydelingum, he spoke of the key role of the MITD which is to promote technical, vocational education and training and to support apprenticeship through training porgrammes while emphasising that since its existence, the institution has provided training to some 250 000 persons.
Mr Maudarbocus, for his part, reaffirmed the MITD’s support to increase access to training as he observed it is an instrumental tool to respond to employability needs.
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