Training for employment and productivity

The project will be coordinated in the private sector by the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and implemented in the public sector by the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Economic Development. The project will reestablish the Belize Institute of Management (BIM) as an outreach service for organizing on-demand management and technical training in industry and tourism. BIM will be given a full-time director and an active Board of Directors and will be located in the offices of the BCCI, which will provide essential linkages to the private sector and identify training needs, participants, trainers, and facilities. BIM will accept subscribed members and establish a revolving loan fund to help companies pay for the training; it is expected to be financially sound by year three. With the help of 10-15 businesspersons who will be hired as part-time instructors and given U.S. or in-country training, BIM will provide 64 management courses for 1,000 public and 280 private individuals during the life of the project. BIM will work with the Belize Technical College and the Vocational Training Center to provide vocational and technical training to 435 craftsmen, technicians, and service workers in priority areas and will provide consultative services to 15 firms. In the public sector, long-term skills and public administration advisors will help the MOE organize a new Vocational Education Division, complete a national vocational training plan, upgrade training facilities (which will be shared with BIM) and establish a National Advisory Vocational Training Council. To enhance the status of skilled workers and vocational teachers, the project will help develop a plan to raise the salaries of vocational instructors and establish a professional association of vocational instructors and a students" club. Courses will be developed to upgrade the export and tourism development-related skills of civil servants. Short-term TA will help establish a manpower data base and carry out a manpower survey; also funded will be U.S. training for MOE administrators, vocational teachers, and export/tourism development personnel. Various training opportunities will be provided for public sector officials. Amendment of 6/2/92 limits assistance under the vocational education component to one key institution being developed by the MOE, the Centre for Employment Training (CET). The project will provide CET instructional staff with short-term in-country and U.S. training, focusing on key construction trades (masonry, plumbing, carpentry, welding and fabrication, and electricity) and auto mechanics. The project will also provide equipment and TA to help CET establish its curricula in construction and auto mechanics skills. (PD-ABE-332)