GATE review will make it better suited to diversified economy: Karim

The People's Partnership (PP) government in Trinidad and Tobago will review the country's GATE program to suit the needs of a diversified economy.

Gate - the Government Assisted Tertiary Education programme - is designed to fund tertiary education. During the election campaign the PP promised to expand GATE.

Speaking with reporters Tuesday, Tertiary Education Minister Fazal Karim said, “What is happening is that we have new economic development sectors that are emerging in the diversified economy, and if you are going to be financing education and training programmes, it is our view that these programmes must have an alignment with the developmental strategy of the country.”

Karim was speaking following the launch of the Caribbean Science Foundation and the Caribbean Science Forum in Port-of-Spain.

Karim said government funded training and education should be based on demand. He explained that what it means is that programs offered at the post secondary level should be based on the jobs and skills required for the new economy.

The minister said the review of GATE is intended to ensure that all graduates could find suitable employment within the local economy.

He said he plans to take a note to cabinet within two weeks to have Gate assessed and reviewed by the newly-appointed National Education Commission. The commission with evaluate all programmes to see if they have been achieving their mandate and objectives.