From left: Ronique Rhoden, Dr Elain Holloway, Sr. Susan Frazer, RSM (Executive Director, St. John Bosco), Ms. Marcia Tai Chun (C.E.O, Sisters of Mercy of Jamaica), Mrs. Paulette Stephenson-Taylor (Administrator, St. John Bosco), Christene Gittens, Stacy Ann Cain Davis, and Marcine Taylor.
St. John Bosco Vocational Training Centre has recently formed a partnership with the The Human Employment and Resource Training Trust/National Training Agency (HEART/NSTA Trust), which has afforded them the opportunity to add five exciting new courses to the school’s academic offerings. The courses are short-term programmes which take students a year or less to complete and they will certify students for a variety of entry-level positions within the service and agricultural industries.
The courses include the following:
NVQJ Level 2 certifications (Duration: 1 year)
Crop Production: Trainees will gain in-depth agricultural knowledge and learn about modern farming techniques that are essential for successful crop cultivation and maximising yields while emphasising sustainable and eco-friendly techniques.
Commercial Food Preparation: Trainees will learn about food safety, preparing foods according to specific dietary and cultural needs, knife skills and more in order to become employed as a Line Cook, Prep Cook, Pastry Chef, caterers or entrepreneurs.
Job Certifications – Level 2 (Duration: 4 months- 6 months)
Nail Technician: Trainees will learn essential techniques for manicures, pedicures, nail extensions, and nail art in order to pursue a career as a Nail Technician, Entrepreneur, Beauty Spa Technician, Nail Consultant, Nail Product Developer or more.
Greenhouse Technology: Students will learn about the general care of plants (i.e. plant health and nutrition; irrigation techniques and drainage; pesticide applications; occupational health and safety procedures and more), in order to become employed as Greenhouse technicians, Seedling nursery technicians, or Farm Supervisors.
Butchery: Trainees will learn to work with and understand the properties of different cuts of meat as well as learn to use professional industrial equipment in order to pursue a career as a Meat Specialist, Meat Cutter, Meat Cutting Instructor, Entrepreneur, Butcher, Meat Inspector or Quality Control Specialist.
Additionally, through the HEART/NSTA Trust’s own collaboration with City & Guilds, HEART is allowing for 40 students to earn City & Guilds certifications in Mathematics and English during this new school year. Thus far, interest expressed in these new courses by the local student population in nearby communities has been promising. We are extremely grateful for this new partnership and look forward to seeing the impact which these new educational offerings have on our student population.
