The Perspectives of Learners in a TVET Institution in Jamaica

A transformative approach in terms of TVET’s contribution to human development is an approach in which TVET promotes effective learning. In Jamaica the role of TVET is mainly instrumental, where TVET is seen as primarily... [ view full abstract ]

A transformative approach in terms of TVET’s contribution to human development is an approach in which TVET promotes effective learning. In Jamaica the role of TVET is mainly instrumental, where TVET is seen as primarily equipping individuals with competencies to acquire and excel in jobs. This is the expectation of the learners and the goals of the institutions which are often in harmony. These are the findings from a qualitative study that was conducted with learners from a TVET institution and is part of an ongoing study. The learners were adult learners pursuing TVET at the higher level. However transformative learning is more than learning for the sake of being instrumental. It is learning that will help the individual to understand new situations, to develop new thinking, to be tolerant and appreciate diversity. This will lead to the development of a learning society in which citizens are engaged in dialogue and there is a sense of personal conscious.
The transformative approach is reflected in Jamaica’s TVET policy where TVET is being situated as part of general education and there is a major thrust to integrate TVET in the formal education system. Additionally, values are being integrated in Jamaica’s TVET curriculum. This focus can be seen as a promising practice. These values include tolerance, respect for others, and teamwork . A monitoring and evaluation approach to TVET can attend to these values in terms of how they are integrated in the development and delivery of programmes.

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