SBC2 - EDUCATION IN SMALL STATES
COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE Johannesburg, South Africa
59th
33rd Small Branches Conference: 2nd Plenary- 30 August 2013
IS EDUCATION MEETING LOCAL EMPLOYMENTNEEDSINSMALL STATES?
Moderator: Hon. Carmelo Abela, MP (Malta)
Discussion Leaders: Ms Rebecca White, MP (Tasmania) Deputy Susie Pinel (Jersey) Hon. Marie-Antoinette Rose, MP, (Seychelles) Mr Ashwani Aggarwal, International Labour Organization (ILO)
Summary
Delegates stated that a country’s economic strength depended on people with core training and necessary skills in respect of finance, manufacturing, information communication technology and engineering, as well as in the field of science. The on-going issue of youth unemployment was highlighted in Small States. It was noted that governments had to play a critical role in addressing the issue. Appropriate programmes needed to be implemented to ensure that citizens had the relevant skills to fill available employment opportunities.
Presentations Ms Rebecca White, MP, proposed 316 | The Parliamentarian | 2013: Issue Four
that most state education systems should attempt to maximize the development of appropriate skills to support local business and create employment.
She called for collaboration between businesses and training institutions so that training can be delivered where it is required. The business community and government should provide learning opportunities to those who cannot attend urban centres for training. Training must be provided on subject matter and in situ, where employment and employment needs exist.
Hon Marie-Antoinette Rose, MP, gave a short history of the evolution of the education and training initiatives in the Seychelles. At present the
education budget was 5.6 per cent of GDP and there had been a steady shift from an impoverished nation to a high middle income country. Despite the education system, the Seychelles has not managed to address some fundamental issues and the question of whether education is meeting the needs has to be asked. Other critical issues include population growth, loss of labour to other countries and the most efficient use of unique skills. Deputy Susie Pinel, spoke of the unemployment problem in Jersey which is being exacerbated by competition from other Small States. The government is looking to education programmes that will address future skills gaps. This initiative, under the Social Security
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