ADDRESS BY DR THE HON. VASANT K. BUNWAREE,
MINISTER OF EDUCATION, CULTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES
On the occasion of the Award of Certificate ceremony for participants having followed
a training course in ‘Systèmes d’Injection Electronique – Essence et Diesel’
&
The official launching ceremony of a training programme in
‘Screen Printing for differently abled persons’
run in collaboration with ‘Compagnie de Beau Vallon Ltee’ and the HRDC
Thursday 9 July 2009
IVTB Mahebourg Training Centre
 Mr. Ashvin Ramdin, Chairman of IVT Council
 Mr. Deepak Tulsidas, Chairman of the HRDC
 Mr. Roland Dubois, Director of the IVTB
 Members of the IVT Council and HRDC Council
 Mr. Thierry Merven, CEO Compagnie de Beau Vallon Ltée
 Members of the IVTB and HRDC
 Members of the Press
 Distinguished Guests
 Ladies and Gentlemen
1
Good morning,
Today is yet another special day for the IVTB, and it is an immense pleasure to
be among you all, on the occasion of:
(i)
firstly, the Award of Certificate Ceremony for participants having
followed a training programme in ‘Systèmes d’Injection Electronique –
Essence et Diesel’ and secondly,
(ii)
the official launching ceremony of a training programme in ‘Screen
Printing for differently abled persons’ to be run in collaboration with
Compagnie de Beau Vallon Ltée and the Human Resources
Development Council.
The IVTB has been called upon to be an enhanced provider of training following
the setting up of the MQA in 2001 and the HRDC in November 2003. Now with
the coming up of the Mauritius Institute of Training and Development, we will be
faced with growing challenges and we must ensure that we respond to the
training needs of all stakeholders.
The running of the above mentioned training courses, underpins the
Government broad philosophy of riding out the global crisis through saving jobs
and therefore protecting people especially in time of financial crisis. In fact, the
IVTB is acting as a platform and supporting the Government policy to re-enforce
Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects.
2
In this context, it has been brought to my attention that the IVTB has had major
fruitful collaborations with numerous private businesses in the past with Jumbo
Score, AREU, CMT, Toyota, BAI, Food and Allied Industries Ltd and lots more
where a score of staff have benefited from valued training to enable them to
better manoeuvre their professional activities.
It is a well known fact that the world is experiencing a swift change among which a
new wave of technology is on the rise at an unprecedented pace and is present in
every domain. The constant growth of electronic components of modern vehicles is
showing no sign of decline as engineers bring to life increasingly complex solutions
to address performance, fuel economy, aesthetics, reduction of air pollution,
safety, comfort, stability and control applications.
The ‘Systèmes d’Injection Electronique – Essence et Diesel’ training programme
comes in at a proper time for our trainees and which is being dispensed by a
foreign experienced trainer from Lycée Georges Brassens, St Denis, Reunion.
The participants, including ten private automotive technicians from the
neighbourhood of Mahebourg have had the opportunity to increase their
knowledge and skills in the latest technological developments in the field of
automotive engineering. I am sure that these mechanics and electricians are now
feeling more confident when they are attending to the repair and maintenance of
modern vehicles at their garage.
3
Ladies and Gentlemen, today, we are also launching here ‘Screen Printing for
differently abled persons’, it is a training programme to be dispensed to ten
participants of the ‘Wheel Chair Ability Foundation’, situated at Mahebourg and
it will be conducted as from Saturday 11 July. This course will enable our
differently abled friends to gain valuable knowledge and hands-on skills in the
printing of paper and fabrics. Eventually, the Foundation will be able to tender
bids and be awarded contracts in printing jobs from governmental, para-statal
and private firms.
It is to be noted that this NGO, which has existed since 2000, presently has 65
members whose age range is 11 to 66 years old. Their members regularly
participate in sports activities and even represent Mauritius in international
competitions.
These activities will surely help the organisation financially, especially in this
difficult period of financial crisis, I would like, here, to thank the Chief Executive
Officer of the Compagnie de Beau Vallon Ltée for the valuable sponsorship
provided by his organisation. You will all recall that in the last Budget speech,
my colleague the Minister of Finance, made a pledge on behalf of our
Government that private companies spend some of their profits on CSR
schemes and assist the vulnerable groups of our society.
4
In this context, all profitable firms would be required to spend 2 % of their profits
on CSR activities to be approved by Government or to transfer these funds to
an account to be used in the fight against poverty. This has been motivated by
the fact that this Government is sparing no effort to help the needy and will give
its full support to the NGOs working with this goal, as these organisations have
a key role to play in our efforts to protect the vulnerable groups. I must say that
the response of the Compagnie de Beau Vallon Ltee has been quick and
prompt and we invite other companies in the region to follow this good example.
I would like to thank the HRDC for its contribution in the provision of grants for
the running of both training programmes and wish all the trainees plenty of
success in their future endeavour.
To end, I would like to say that training is not an end in itself but a means
leading to the world of work. Training provides for social integration but its
culmination to employment is economic integration which should be our ultimate
goal.
Thank you for your attention.
5