“Expand your education horizons to include both knowledge-based and practical skills.”
Sound words of advice from Professor Prakash Persad, Minister of Tertiary Education and Skills Training.
Speaking at a career fair at the Ghandi Memorial Vedic Primary School, Minister Persad called on students to learn practical skills to be ahead of the AI wave.
“What’s happening now, that skills training, what they call it, AI-proof jobs, that jobs will not be affected by AI. So jobs that require skills, practical skills. So for instance, AI can’t replace firemen, right? AI cannot replace mentors, workers, etc., right? I mean, put it simply, AI cannot replace, you know, nail techs. So there are a lot of jobs that require skills, right, that AI wouldn’t touch. And therefore, that’s why I said to them, open your horizons, your vision. Do not look only at the academic part. Look at the skills part, too. That’s what’s happening. That’s coming.”
Minister Persad also noted in the wider job front that the Government is seeking to ensure that persons who have been in receipt of bursaries and scholarships are given some priority when it comes to new public sector jobs. He said this will ensure that the public service is continually upgraded.