Technical students are expected to benefit from expanded work placements, specialised internships and accredited aviation training under two agreements signed by the Ministry of Education and private sector partners.
In a statement, the ministry said one agreement pairs the Guyana Industrial Training Centre (GITC) with Farfan & Mendes, while the other involves the Essequibo Technical Institute (ETI), the Art Williams and Harry Wendt Aeronautical Engineering School and the Board of Industrial Training (BIT).
Under the first agreement, Farfan & Mendes will provide GITC students with work placements, safety equipment, tools and specialised training from the 2026–2027 academic year.
Students placed with the company will receive insurance coverage and a daily stipend for five days each week, the ministry said. It did not disclose the value of the stipend or the number of students expected to benefit.
Deputy Chief Education Officer for Technical Education Dr Ritesh Tularam said private sector partnerships were important in giving trainees access to “modern facilities, technologies, methodologies and hands-on experiences that complement their institutional training.”
Farfan & Mendes Human Resources Manager Glivann Cameron said the company has had a longstanding relationship with technical institutions.
“We have seen first-hand the quality of graduates entering the workforce, with some former technical institute students remaining in our employment for as long as 20 years,” Cameron said.
The second agreement will establish a 12-month aircraft maintenance foundation programme leading to a Level One Caribbean Vocational Qualification.
Training will be conducted at the aeronautical engineering school’s campus at Ogle and at ETI satellite locations in Essequibo.
According to the ministry, BIT will finance the provision of tools, equipment and study material by the aviation school.
“The Ministry of Education continues to ensure that these kinds of partnerships and collaborations are realisable,” Tularam said.
He added that the objective was to ensure students have access to training that prepares them for employment.
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