The State, key actor in education to achieve labor skills

It is necessary to promote work skills training and technical education as a State policy, in order to improve competitiveness and development in the country. A positive relationship has been found between investment in human capital and economic growth. New capacities and competencies in the area of human resources result in an improvement of productivity, leading to an increase in the competitiveness of companies, impacting at a macroeconomic level. 

To promote this initiative it is necessary to allocate resources to educational institutions and for the maintenance of the infrastructure. This favors the training of human capital that responds to the demands for competitiveness in the region, such as the creation of innovating products with more value added, or that contribute in more complex processes that transform these products. 

These were some of the conclusions of the seminar "La Formación Técnica para el Trabajo en Venezuela" (Technical Training for Work in Venezuela), which included the participation of close to 100 representatives from more than 19 organizations and public and private institutions in the country linked to the training of apprentices, medium-level and university technicians, and un-schooled youths. 

Some of the assistants were the National Director of Technical Schools of the Ministry of Popular Power for Education and her work team, as well as representatives from public and private universities that are committed to the training of teachers for technical education. International guests included Alfonso Prada, Director of the Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje (SENA) (National Learning Service) of Colombia, and Diana Mejia, specialist representing CAF. 

From the international experience presented in the symposium, participants highlighted the importance of coordinated work between the State (ministries and companies), private companies, universities, technical education institutions, and other actors.