A partnership between National Institute for Professional Advancement (NIPA) and Real Auto BV announced in Monday’s paper is the kind of synergy that can help being about sustainable development. It concerns an on-the-job training programme as part of the trade school’s Automotive Technician courses.
That does not mean the company will hire all graduates, but it can play a positive role in producing more qualified and capable local mechanics rather than having to import these. Whether they end up there or elsewhere does not matter as much as properly preparing them to find gainful employment.
With the island’s number of garages, car dealerships and rentals as well as – let’s face it – motor vehicles on the road, this is an area where jobs are probably readily available. The same is true about the significant marine industry as one reader pointed out, particularly repair and maintenance of outboard engines for which there seems to be a sizeable demand.
Finding ways for residents to optimally benefit from progress and possibilities the tourism economy offers is not a task of just government or even the education field. Both the public and private sectors have vested interests in promoting an adequate and high-level workforce able to meet the challenges of today.
Learning in the classroom or even school workshop is one thing, functioning in an operating business quite another. This certainly regards an example to be followed.
