Leader of Government and Commissioner responsible for Education Affairs Sarah Wescot-Williams, says she is very pleased with the success booked by the St. Maarten Institute of Technology & Hospitality (SMITH).
SMITH’s 2009 Work Based Training Program officially began recently for the SPRING 2009 semester. Sixteen students, pursuing an SBO diploma at the Institute in the area of Computer Service Assistant, Business Administrative Assistant or Secretarial Assistant, began their first semester of SBO Work Based Training at thirteen different companies.
"The preliminary feedback received by SMITH’s Work Based Training Coordinator, from the majority of the businesses, regarding the black and gold professionally uniformed trainees, has been very satisfactory." stated SMITH’s Education Coordinator Sidonia Hodge-Lacorbiniere.
Prior to participating in the Work Based Training each student was required to successfully complete SMITH’s Skills Training Program, be making satisfactory progress in the relevant SBO courses and successfully pass a readiness evaluation by the Institute’s facilitators and coordinators.
The Work Based Training is in an integral part of the practical training of each participant. It takes place throughout the duration of the three, two year, SBO programs stated above. During the first year of enrolment in the SBO program, the Work Based Training will be conducted two days per week and will increase to three days per week in the second year of training.
The opportunities to intern at various cooperating businesses provides each participant with valuable experience that reinforces the various skills being learnt at the Institute, exposes the student to hands on experience that can only be gleaned in the labour market and enhances their future employability. It also provides the cooperating businesses with trainees who are capable of taking on increased levels of responsibility and autonomy, during the two year period and a pool of potentially new employees.
During the Spring of 2009 and Fall of 2009, the Work Based Training will be conducted for two days a week for a twelve week and a sixteen week period respectively.
"SMITH Institute is very appreciative of the cooperation received from the various cooperating businesses, which include Marshal Motors, Telem, Le Grand Marche, Prime, Windward Islands Bank, Carl’s and Son’s, the Island Government of St. Maarten, Heineken, Pelican Resort, Oyster Bay, Rainbow Grocery, and WINAIR." stated Education Coordinator Sidonia Hodge-Lacorbiniere.
"SMITH was established to create an opportunity for those who didn’t get to complete their education. The nation’s young people are the hope of the St. Maarten nation. I am very pleased with what SMITH has been able to achieve so far and I am very pleased with the support of the business community as well. With the cooperation, and hard work of all stakeholders, we will continue to take this nation forward," Commissioner for Education Affairs Sarah Wescot-Williams told the Government Information Service (GIS).