CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION OF CARICOM SKILLS QUALIFICATION
The Certificate of Recognition of CARICOM Skills Qualification programme facilitates the free movement of labour by CARICOM Skilled Nationals (CSNs) by allowing CSNs of participating CARICOM nations to move between nations to seek and pursue work opportunities without needing to obtain a work permit. The information below provides insight into the performance of this programme during the quarter from January 1, 2023, to March 31, 2023. We invite all readers to visit our website at www.bac.gov.bb to learn more about this programme and assess their eligibility to qualify as a CARICOM Skilled National.
During the quarter of January – March 2023, one hundred and seventeen (117) Certificate applications were received, and one hundred and forty-seven (147) Certificates were issued. These numbers were 47% and 213% increases, respectively, on the tallies of the previous quarter October – December 2022 and quarterly all-time records at the Council. Additionally, thirty-nine (39) Certificate verification requests were received while verifying forty-six (46) Certificates. These numbers were 22% and 100% increases, respectively, on the tallies of the previous quarter October – December 2022 and rank second all-time amongst quarterly records at the Council.
As the chart above shows, the largest number of Certificates were issued to nationals from Jamaica. No Certificates were issued to nationals from Antigua & Barbuda and St. Kitts & Nevis. Historically, Barbadian nationals have accounted for upwards of 50% of recipients of CARICOM Skills Certificates in most cases. However, 2021 onwards has seen Jamaican nationals become the most common applicants for CARICOM Skills Certificates.
The largest number of the 147 Certificates issued were to those who applied under the Graduate category. No Certificates were issued to anyone under the categories Musician, Teacher, Agricultural Worker, and Media Person.
Certificates were issued mostly to recipients who fell between the ages of 26 & 30, with this age group accounting for 25% of Certificate recipients.
BARBADOS ACCREDITATION COUNCIL RECOGNITION SERVICES
| JANUARY 2023 – MARCH 2023 | |||||
| BAC RECOGNITION SERVICES | |||||
| SERVICE | MALE | FEMALE | TOTAL | PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL | CHANGE FROM Q4 2022 |
| RECOGNITION OF INSTITUTION and/or PROGRAMME | 6 | 4 | 10 | 50.0% | 6 , 150% |
| RECOGNITION OF QUALIFICATIONS (EQUIVALENCY) | 4 | 6 | 10 | 50.0% | -6 , -37.5% |
| RECOGNITION & VERIFICATION OF QUALIFICATIONS | NONE | -2 , -100% | |||
| TOTAL | 10 | 10 | 20 | 100.0% | -2 , -9.1% |
The table shows that the Recognition of Institution and/or Programme service and Recognition of Qualifications (Equivalency) service were equally demanded during the quarter.
BARBADOS ACCREDITATION COUNCIL REGISTRATION SERVICES
| JANUARY 2023 – MARCH 2023 | |||
| BAC REGISTRATION SERVICES | |||
| INSTITUTION | DESCRIPTION | REGISTRATION OR RE-REGISTRATION | PERIOD OF REGISTRATION |
| Barbados Cosmetology School | Cosmetology, Hair Dressing, Gel/Nail Technology, Make-Up Artistry, Spa Therapy | Registration | 1 year |
| Barbados Institute of Management and Productivity | Management Skills | Re-registration | 3 years |
| Grace & Truth Critical Incident Training & Consultancies | Faith-based educational programmes | Re-registration | 3 years |
| Passiflora Ltd. | Horticultural Training | Re-registration | 1 year |
| Queen’s University College of Medicine | Medical Education | Re-registration | 1 year |
| Testis Security System | Security Knowledge & Crime Prevention | Re-registration | 1 year |
During the quarter there were five (5) re-registrations and one (1) new registration completed. This volume of institutions maintaining their registration status with the Council continues to be an encouraging sign for the post-secondary/tertiary education sector in Barbados.
To learn more about Registration with the BAC, or any of its other services, we invite you to visit our website at www.bac.gov.bb.
