The Stann Creek Institute for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ITVET) has officially unveiled its renovated campus following a $1.4 million rehabilitation project aimed at improving facilities for students pursuing trade and technical skills.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony held earlier this week marked the completion of the upgrade project, which was funded through the Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF).
The renovation included improvements to several areas of the campus, with officials highlighting repairs to building structures, roofing, painting, and other upgrades designed to improve the learning environment for students and staff.
Project Manager for the BNTF, Dorett Tennyson, said one of the major concerns addressed during the rehabilitation was the condition of the campus roofs. “A big part was the leaks; we had leaks on the roof. So you know, we cleared it, we sealed it, and we repainted it, so we shouldn’t have leaking roofs again,” Tennyson said.
Following the ceremony, guests toured the upgraded facilities, which officials said will support expanded training opportunities for students and members of the wider community.
Stann Creek ITVET Manager Gwendolyn Garcia Martinez said the improvements will allow the institution to increase its capacity and strengthen partnerships with businesses and organisations seeking skilled workers. She said businesses within the tourism sector have already expressed interest in working with the institution to train employees, while the school is also exploring opportunities to provide training for other groups, including persons seeking asylum. “It has given us another level whereby we will be able to better serve more persons within this area,” Garcia Martinez said.
Acting Area Representative for Dangriga, Hope Creek, and Sarawee, Dr Louis Zabaneh, reflected on the challenges facing the institution before the renovation, including low enrolment and limited attention toward skills training needs in southern Belize.
