Businesses help youth to find their Career Pathways

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 31: Good afternoon,

Since last year’s Throne Speech promise to “give consideration to the formation of Career Academies in Bermuda’s Public School System to augment the existing technical skills training and provide an alternative pathway to success,” I have given periodic updates of our progress with Career Pathways; announcing that it would be offered in the 2012/2013 school year.

Today, I am very pleased to highlight those businesses who have committed to helping to develop our young people for the careers that exist in Bermuda.

Today I am joined by more than two dozen of our private and public sector representatives who have committed to the Career Pathways Programme. I want to publicly acknowledge their commitment today with the presentation of a certificate of appreciation. However, before I formally recognise them, let me say a few words about the benefits of this new programme.

The Career Pathways Programme represents a cornerstone in the foundation of the development of our students. Recognising that all careers require certain basic fundamental knowledge and skills, the programme is designed to provide public school students with pathways to greater preparation for career and college opportunities for a fulfilling life beyond the classroom.

This initiative is a partnership between the Ministry of Education, the Bermuda College and Bermuda’s industry partners.

Career Pathways, which was launched earlier this month is being overseen by Dr. Radell Tankard of the Department of Education. It launched with 223 S3 students from the Berkeley Institute and CedarBridge Academy.

There are a total of five (5) pathways - Early College - Applied Technologies - Athletics, Arts and Communication - Health and Human Services - and Business and Hospitality. 

The goal of the Programme is to: 

• Give students advance knowledge and understanding of career and college options;
• Provide hands-on experience through work placements that enable them to observe, experience, and learn first-hand work values, skills and practices;   
• Give students the opportunity to advance at their own rate in college preparation and college readiness courses;
• Develop inter-personal communication skills, relationship-building, professionalism and accountability.

The programme is:

• Offered to students in their third year of senior school (usually once they have achieved their IGCSE’s);
• Students participate in a once a week placement during the semester from 1:00pm – 5:00pm.
• Students rotate each semester over two years.
• Mentors are assigned to groups of students for their entire career pathway experience.
• Students receive an Advanced Work-Based Certificate at the end of the 2 year period.

Currently, there are over 43 industry partners participating; (the Bermuda Hospitality Institute itself providing access to 24 establishments) and 10 Government Ministries.

The organisations represented here today have stepped forward for the betterment of our community. They have allowed students from our public school system to engage and become exposed to activities that occur in their establishments once a week for fourteen (14) weeks.

As a result, students are being exposed to an exciting array of career possibilities. Our industry partners should feel a sense of pride and reward knowing that they are helping to shape, nurture and develop the next generation of contributing men and women.

On behalf of the Ministry of Education, and on behalf of the parents and students who will benefit from this programme, I want to express our gratitude with the presentation of these Certificates.

Thank you.