Students of the Division of Technical and Vocational Education of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College will soon be assessed by an international body which will provide them with certification that is recognized internationally.{{more}}

At a press conference held on Tuesday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Conference Room, Chief Education Officer Susan Dougan said that the Ministry of Education and the Community College Board are looking to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Edexcel, the United Kingdom’s largest awarding body offering academic and vocational qualifications and testing in the United Kingdom and internationally.

The Chief said once Cabinet approval is given and Edexcel has completed an audit of the Division’s facilities, Edexcel will begin the process of assessing students of the Division and other students accessing Technical and Vocational Education in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Dougan said the qualifications being considered are the Higher National Certificate (HNC) and the Higher National Diploma (HND), which are widely recognized by universities and professional bodies throughout the world in a wide range of subject areas.

She explained that the HNCs and HNDs have the academic equivalent of Advanced level subjects and will give the students of the Division matriculation requirements for entry to University.

Another advantage associated with Edexcel, Dougan said, is that exams can be written at any time of the year when students are deemed to be ready by their lecturers.

Expressing confidence that the resources at the Division are up to standard, Dougan said the lecturers had all been trained by the Human Employment and Resource Training (HEART) Trust NTA of Jamaica to deliver competency-based education to students.

At present, the Division offers courses in sixty different skill areas.