The On-The-Job Training Programme and other initiatives under the Ministry of Tertiary Education are currently under review. Minister Professor Prakash Persad says the review follows a flurry of hiring prior to the general election, but he denies that staff will be sent home or that fewer trainees will be hired. Rynessa Cutting reports.
00:00On Tuesday, the Minister of Education confirmed that the book grant and school supplies programs are currently under review, and as such, no allocations were made towards the programs for fiscal 2026.
00:13On day two of the Standing Finance Committee, the Minister of Tertiary Education has indicated that the on-the-job training program is also being reviewed, resulting in a smaller budget allocation for staff in fiscal 2026.
00:28There was a flurry of hiring before elections, and we are looking at the numbers again to see what actually we need and to put good use to it.
00:40So therefore, the allocation that shows a reduction means that staff are going to be let go?
00:45No, those who are on the program will be paid, but we are reviewing the program to make it more efficient.
00:51But if it was paid at a level of $2 million in 2025, and all the allocation is $1.3 million, it means that you would not have enough allocation.
00:59You have a reduction of $700,000, which is significant.
01:03Therefore, how many persons are being paid from this line item right now?
01:06You're presuming that people's contract didn't come to an end.
01:10But the Minister maintained that it is not that the government will be sending workers home, and gave the assurance that the government will finance the shortfall.
01:19If required, we'll come back to the Ministry of Finance for the media review.
01:23He said that at the start.
01:25Why are we belaboring this question?
01:27Because, Mr. Minister of Finance, the money is not coming from a well that you could just dip in and take money.
01:34And if every minister in every line item is under-budgeted and underfunded, it is not as though money can just be created to put in these line items.
01:42A budget exercise, if I may continue and finish what I'm saying, a budget exercise, it is required that the planning, the proper planning is done, and that line items are funded as they should be.
01:54Despite a $45 million reduction in budgeted funds for trainee payments compared to last year, officials reaffirmed that the intake of trainees under the OJT program will not be reduced.
02:08Either you're hiring less, or you're hiring the same amount at a lower level.
02:13And it means that persons who have degrees and so on will be less able to find opportunity.
02:18The fact is, if you are funding $45 million less, then how could you be hiring the same amount?
02:24So, ma'am, just for your clarification, for simplicity, OJC training is a temporary measure.
02:34The government has clearly announced the employment and the filling of vacancies at a national level.
02:41The government has also engaged in a recruitment drive for that purpose.
02:45The intention of the government of Trinidad and Tobago, this government, is to provide strong, sustainable, reliable, well-being jobs to young people.
02:55I trust that answers your questions, ma'am.
02:58So, I'm asking again, so are less people going to be hired under the OJT program?
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