Guyana targets stronger youth participation in expanding natural resources sector
As Guyana’s natural resources sector continues to expand, the government is placing greater emphasis on preparing young Guyanese with the technical and scientific skills needed to occupy emerging employment and leadership opportunities across the industry.
Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat said developing a new generation of skilled Guyanese is critical to ensuring that nationals are positioned to manage and participate meaningfully in the country’s expanding oil and gas, mining and forestry sectors.
During an interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI) last Wednesday, Minister Bharrat said he intends to place greater focus on encouraging secondary school students to consider careers in science, technology and technical disciplines.
He noted that many students traditionally gravitate towards business, accounting and the arts, while technical and science streams are sometimes viewed as more difficult.
“If we don’t address this problem now, we won’t have much young people who are qualified to work in the natural resources sector moving forward,” Minister Bharrat said.
He said the expansion of the sector will require Guyanese with specialised qualifications who can take on increasingly technical responsibilities and eventually assume leadership positions.
He said a programme is being planned to take the conversation directly into secondary schools, allowing students to gain greater awareness of the career opportunities available within the natural resources sector.
Minister Bharrat, who has a background in education, said his experience has reinforced the importance of exposing young people to opportunities early and challenging misconceptions surrounding technical and scientific careers.
He said the objective is not simply to increase employment, but to develop the human capital necessary to sustain Guyana’s transformation over the long term.
“I would like to see a lot more young people coming into the sector,” he said, adding that young Guyanese must be encouraged to educate and certify themselves to take up employment and leadership roles.
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