As the second phase of the Database Training Program comes to a close, the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment has now stepped up its approach towards the training of staff from the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF). The Sensitization process is part of the ongoing Saint Lucia Human Capital Resilience Program (SLHCRP), which seeks to enhance the Social Protection System in Saint Lucia.
Strengthening the core pillars of the Educational Assistance Program (EAP), is one direct deliverable. The final phase of this database training workshop was hosted on May 25, 2022 at the National Skills Development Centre (NSDC). Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for the Saint Lucia Human Capital Resilience Project (SLHCRP) and workshop coordinator Lavorne Verdant-Desir stated that, “This training is primarily intended to prepare the SSDF team for their annual rollout of the Educational Assistance Programme.
This year, the SSDF will be supported by the SLHCRP to enhance the EAP data collection tools and expand the reach of the EAP.” SSDF staff member Brandon Antoine welcomed the intervention noting, “With this database knowledge one of my goals at the SSDF would be to boost efficiency, by developing ways of guiding persons pursuing TVET related CSEC, CVQ and NVQ qualifications and to eventually eliminate the Educational Assistance duplication process.”
SSDF Support Services Supervisor Jennifer Walter shares similar views stating, “I welcome the database digitization process of information where clients will no longer have to fill this long form with pen and paper. I am eagerly looking forward to this more efficient and effective system of database management EAP programme.” The SSDF Revised Educational Assistance Program (EPA) will commence in July 2022.