Basseterre, St. Kitts, June 21, 2013 (SKNIS): The students at the Advanced Vocational Education Centre (AVEC) were given a chance to showcase their skills and ongoing activities while increasing their self-esteem at the school’s annual Open Day on Thursday (June 20).
Director of AVEC Clyde Christopher told SKNIS that the event provides an opportunity for the public to interact with the students and to see what is happening at the institution.
“Very often a lot of the educational institutions are ‘closed’ so to speak,” he stated. “So, we are trying to be more transparent.”
Mr. Christopher also noted that the success of AVEC is based heavily on the partnership that has been developed with both the public and private sector.
“They (the private sector) are here displaying with us also,” he noted. “We encourage it because it provides our students the opportunity to gain the kind of training whether at AVEC or on the job. That opportunity is there. So we use this day to bring our trainees and corporate partners together in one location so both can benefit from each other’s expertise.”
The Director stressed that the day is important because there is a need to for the trainees to appreciate what they are doing.
“When persons come and see and express an appreciation of what the trainees are doing, it builds their self-esteem,” Mr. Christopher explained. “One of the challenges that we have at AVEC is trying to lift the self-esteem of these youngsters. They have been put down for too long, rejected and bypassed. At AVEC we try to bring importance to them, let them know that they are valued, what they are doing has value; they can contribute to economic development within the Federation.”
Mr. Christopher added that prospective students will also be able to benefit from the esteem building event.
“It’s something that we want to continue as far into the future as possible,” Mr. Christopher enthused.