Barbados faces the prospect of economic stagnation unless it urgently prioritises skills training as a cornerstone of national development, Minister of Training and Tertiary Education Sandra Husbands warned on Friday.
Husbands called for a nationwide commitment to technical and vocational education to secure the island’s future prosperity as she addressed the closing ceremony of WorldSkills Barbados 2025 at the Radisson Aquatica Resort.
The WorldSkills platform should be seen not merely as a competition, but as a transformative tool to raise training standards, prepare young people for meaningful careers, and build a stronger, more competitive Barbados, she said.
Husbands added: “Skills are the way in which we’re going to open doors. It’s how we’re going to build careers, and more importantly, it’s going to drive our economy forward. Because as you drive forward, you bring your family with you, and the more families that drive forward, the better off the community is, and the better off the community is, the stronger the economy becomes.”
Citing international data, the training minister illustrated how WorldSkills has produced measurable benefits in other countries. In Germany, more than 70 per cent of competitors secure employment within six months, often in higher-paying roles with greater responsibility. In South Korea, 85 per cent reported stronger leadership and problem-solving skills as a direct result of their involvement. In Canada, 90 per cent of alumni remain in their trades five years on, with many advancing to supervisory or entrepreneurial positions.
Minister of Training and Tertiary Education Sandra Husbands. (SB)
“In addition, countries like Brazil, India, and South Africa have used WorldSkills to transform their economies, so Barbados can do the same,” Husbands suggested. “We already have the talent; now we need the systems and the support to match, and what we need is your drive and your resilience and your unstoppableness.”
Husbands challenged post-secondary and tertiary institutions across the island to “step up” by aligning their programmes with WorldSkills standards and encouraging student participation in both national and international competitions.
She said: “This is about more than medals. It’s about better training that leads to better quality jobs, stronger partnerships with industry, and a more competitive Barbados on the global stage.
“So let me be clear, this conversation goes beyond just the WorldSkills Barbados programme. At its heart, this initiative is a strategic tool designed to strengthen and advance our national technical and vocational education and training system.”
She also issued a warning about the consequences of inaction, referencing recent findings from the World Bank that highlight alarmingly low enrolment in post-secondary and tertiary education across the region.
Husbands said: “To expect as a right as a Barbadian—whether we’re talking about health care, whether we’re talking about roads, whether we’re talking about housing, whether we’re talking about education—all of those things that we take for granted in this country will be at risk if we don’t ensure that this next generation of young people are able to be so well trained.
“Your success is our national success.” (SB)
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