NASSAU, The Bahamas – The National Training Agency (NTA) is preparing Bahamians to function effectively in the COVID-19 era.

Thanks to NTA, 255 students are receiving free online job training and certification in Office Procedures, Information Technology, Microsoft Office, Graphic Design and Web Design.

NTA Executive Director, Gadville McDonald, said the objective of the Summer Cohort is to provide the trainees with skills and encourage them to have the mindset and attitude that would enable them to gain employment and seize opportunities that are available right where they are.

“Our selection of soft skills units and technical skills qualifications for this cohort are intentional. Our focus is to best prepare you to function effectively in this era of Covid-19. We are convinced that upon successful completion you will be able to utilize your web designs, graphic designs, Information technology, Microsoft office and office procedure skills to further enhance your career, life and your community,” he told the students.

“As a competency-based training agency, our mission is to prepare you to do and not just to know. Industry leaders and our job providers are depending on us to prepare you in a manner that you are able to contribute to the ongoing success of their companies on day one.”

“Over the last two years we have invested in building an online interactive platform that is best suited for training and assessment in our context of The Bahamas. We are excited about the Brightspace platform that allows us to offer our services throughout The Bahamas. We are now able to live up to the ‘National’ that is in the National Training Agency.

“The agency remains committed to your success. The Government of The Bahamas continues to invest in you. As you are aware, your training comes at no cost to you,” added Mr. McDonald.

Family Island trainees are accessing the services of the NTA for the first time. In addition to New Providence and Grand Bahama, the cohort comprises students from 11 islands.  The students will undergo 3 to 4 weeks of soft skills training and 10 weeks of technical skills training. 

NTA is a competency-based training agency.  Some 6,000 young Bahamians have been trained in programmes offered by NTA and 60 percent of them have been successfully placed in fulltime employment.