HEART/NSTA Trust – 40 years of building a competitive labour force
Published:Wednesday | June 19, 2024 | 12:06 AMKeisha Hill/Senior Gleaner Writer
FOR OVER 40 years, the Human Employment and Resource Training/National Service Training Agency (HEART/NSTA Trust) has been the largest provider of technical, vocational education and training in Jamaican and the Caribbean.
The organisation, known to most Jamaicans as ‘HEART’, continues to build and sustain a globally competitive labour force, responsive to the demands and complexities of the modern workplace.
According to Chevor Cato, senior instructor at the HEART/NSTA Trust Newport campus, many young people are intrigued to know about their course offerings, and the demand in enrolment has been overwhelming.
“Even if the persons that apply do not have any CXCs, we offer them an entrance examination that includes mathematics and English, that allows them to get enrolled in the course. We also teach what is equivalent to a high school diploma, that allows them to matriculate into Level 1 to 4 programmes,” Cato said.
The intake period for courses begins in January, May/June and September of each year. According to Cato, there are more persons applying for their courses; therefore, because of the application process, it is advised that they apply in advance of the course they are interested in pursuing.
Cato said they are passionate about creating a Jamaican workforce, trained and certified at international standards, who can improve Jamaica’s national productivity and competitiveness.
“We participate in and/or attend expos to inform persons about our programme offerings. We also visit primary and high schools, so that students are aware of what we offer, to help them make more informed decisions. Some of our more popular courses include welding, building construction and drafting, allied health, digital animation, chef de party, and food and beverage maître’d,” Cato said.
“We also provide skilled and competent workers through our institutional-based training programmes or through our on-the-job training approaches. We also provide employers with customised workforce solutions for their businesses. Eighty to 90 per cent of our graduates are placed on job experience,” he added.
HEART/NSTA Trust also offers grant funding for past trainees for up to two years once they have registered their businesses. “As a human development agency for more than three decades, we have impacted every major industry and community in Jamaica, with an expanded mandate since 2016 to encourage and facilitate volunteerism, mentorship and adult literacy,” Cato said.
The HEART/NSTA Trust was established in 1982 by former Prime Minister Edward Seaga in a bid to satisfy the demand for solutions to the persistent problem of underdevelopment in the country. During the Budget Debate on April 22, 1982, he announced that one of his priorities was that of creating a skills-training and employment programme for Jamaicans.
The Newport location of the HEART/NSTA Trust is one of the three in the region. Other locations are in Junction and Black River in St Elizabeth. At the Derrick Rochester campus in Junction, they offer robotics, while the Black River campus also offers general construction and business courses.
Other courses offered in the region also include City and Guilds Proficiency, computer repair, early childhood education, allied health, patient care and geriatric, hospitality operations, housekeeping, cake baking and electrical inspection.
For this year’s May-June intake, they are offering industrial electrical maintenance, commissary chef Level 2, and AC and refrigerator repair. “The class size is normally 25 to 30 persons based on our available resources,” Cato said.
For further information about the programmes offered at the HEART/NSTA Trust Newport location, call 876-994-3278 ext 6500.
The HEART/NSTA Trust was an exhibitor and sponsor at the recent Central Jamaica Business Expo, held at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville.