Ministry of Youth, Sports and Community Empowerment has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Marriott International to implement the National Apprenticeship Programme to provide opportunities for youth to gain on-the-job training and experience.
The agreement was signed by Permanent Secretary Hussain Shareef and by the Area Director of Human Resources in Malaysia, Singapore and Maldives of Mariott International Emma Jones. The signing ceremony was held at the Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort and Spa.
Marriott International will offer youth training opportunities at seven resorts in the Maldives. They include Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort and Spa, Ritz-Carlton Maldives in Fari Islands, Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort, W Maldives, Le Meridien Maldives Resort and Spa, JW Marriott Maldives Resort and Spa and St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort. A total of 250 opportunities will be provided for youth in nine different fields for five years under the agreement.
Speaking at the ceremony, Permanent Secretary Shareef said the National Apprenticeship Programme will train individuals in various fields of tourism. He said 139 individuals have graduated from the programme, adding more than 400 individuals are currently completing the programme with 15 companies.
The purpose of the programme is to train young people, especially the marginalised youth, in various skills to allow them to become job-ready and productive members of society. It is a special programme that will provide opportunities for employees to learn jobs under the supervision of experts in the workplace. Participants will receive a level-3 certificate upon completion of the programme, which will adhere to the Maldives National Skills Development Authority (MNSDA) national competency standards.