Equality of Opportunity in Education and Training - Programmes by National Training Agency (HEART/NTA) - Jamaica

HEART/NTA is the government body responsible for the vocational training system in Jamaica. A number of its programmes are relevant to women:

Women's Constructive Collective

According to the Ministry of Education in Jamaica, an increasing number of women are entering into non-traditional faculties, such as construction. The HEART/NTA began a training programme "Women’s Constructive Collective" at its Portmore Academy in the parish of St. Catherine.

School Leavers Training Opportunities Programme (S.L.T.O.P.s)

Under SLTOPs, companies have the option to take on trainees on a stipend as part of their contribution to HEART. An incentive system to hire female trainees is in place, whereby a company will receive a rebate of 75% of the stipend paid to the employee. However, for each female employee, companies will receive an increased rebate of 80%. The rebate system is especially targeted to increase the participation of women in atypical occupations, such as agricultural and construction skills.

HEART/NTA has increased access to vocational training for women through community based programmes, for which two- thirds of the enrollment was female in 1996.