More than 552,000 young Jamaicans have received skills training through the HEART/NSTA Trust since 2020, according to Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, Senator Dr. the Hon. Dana Morris Dixon.
“These programmes have opened doors for those who once believed their dreams were out of reach,” Dr. Morris Dixon said during her recent contribution to the Appropriation Bill debate in the Senate. “With the elimination of tuition fees in 2023, we saw more and more students deciding, ‘Let me go to HEART; let me get that skill that I have always wanted’.”
The Minister highlighted the impact of targeted programmes such as Learning and Investment for Transformation (LIFT) and the Community Action for Rewarding Engagement (CARE) Initiative, which aim to expand access to training for diverse groups of young people.
Launched in August 2023, LIFT equips students exiting fifth and sixth form with practical skills and the right mindset for the workforce. The CARE Initiative, meanwhile, focuses on engaging youth who are unemployed or not enrolled in any training.
“Yes, LIFT is 500 students; yes, CARE is 1,300, but there are over 150,000 students that have gone through HEART after the elimination of fees,” she said. “What we have to understand is that there are unique pockets of young people that may have to be reached in a different way.”
Dr. Morris Dixon emphasized that the programmes are designed not only to teach skills but also to empower participants with literacy and counselling services, particularly under CARE. Another cohort is expected to benefit from both programmes this year.
“There are many different cohorts that we are trying to reach,” she said. “I think we are doing a very good job and there is more to be done, a lot more to be done, and we are going to keep doing it.”
Among new initiatives, the Minister announced that Jamaica will launch its first-ever Cultural Apprenticeship Programme this year. The pilot, which will train 200 young people in creative and business skills through HEART, is intended to open structured pathways into the creative industries.
“Participants will gain invaluable hands-on experience by working alongside both local and international creatives, including event planners, promoters, entertainers, artisans, sculptors, filmmakers and content creators,” she explained. Each participant will receive a $69,000 monthly stipend during the apprenticeship.
She urged Members of Parliament to nominate youth for the programme, noting, “We hear our young people asking for a structured pathway into the creative industry… the Administration has heard our young people and we have delivered for them through this programme.”
Additionally, 300 young people will take part in the Expanded Apprenticeship Programme, another paid pilot project. Focused on tourism, construction, and hospitality, it will be launched in partnership with the Sandals Corporate University and include a compulsory savings feature of 10 percent from earnings.
The Minister also highlighted support for graduates in STEM fields, stating that HEART/NSTA Trust level-four graduates pursuing STEM-related programmes are eligible for grants of up to $300,000.
Dr. Morris Dixon reiterated the government’s ongoing commitment to investing in youth development. “We remain committed to empowering the country’s human capital, especially the nation’s youth, to thrive in a dynamic global economy,” she said.
