By Kathryn Campbell
Training students to become good candidates for positions in the hospitality industry, coaching students how to secure internship and work experience, exposing Generation Z to the hospitality industry, and teaching Math for Night Auditing in the Hotel Industry are among the lessons covered at the Family and Consumer Science Education Unit Spring Professional Development Workshops Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at C.C. Sweeting Senior High School.
The workshops for public and private school teachers have been organized by the Ministry of Education and focuses on Hospitality and Tourism Studies, Food and Nutrition, Family and Consumer Science General Studies (FCSE) Cosmetology, Clothing Construction and Craft.
The theme of the Hospitality and Tourism Studies workshop was ‘Inspiring Today’s Talent to Become Tomorrow’s Hospitality and Tourism Industry Leaders’. Cuahtemoc “C.C.” Novella, VP of Sales, AHLEI and National Restaurant Association and Elizabeth O’Brien, AHLEI, facilitated the day’s sessions. Carlton Russell, President, Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), addressed the opening.
During day one of the two-day event, junior and high school teachers honed in on Lesson Planning, FCSE, BJC, BGCSE Food and Nutrition, BGCSE Clothing Construction and Craft, and American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI) International Certification. Raquel Turnquest, Acting Education Officer, said her department is seeking to have all of the students gain international certifications through AHLEI, which offers certifications in housekeeping, maintenance, restaurant serving and more through the START program.
“We are really focused on how we are going to get our students to transition from school, to work and beyond. We know that some students choose to further their education by attending university whether at University of The Bahamas, travelling abroad or going straight into the job market. It is our job as high school hospitality and tourism studies educators to make sure that they are prepared,” said Ms. Turnquest.
She encouraged parents/guardians who have a child/children who are interested in participating in the Hospitality and Tourism Studies Industry to enroll them in the hospitality and tourism studies programs.
The sessions continued Thursday with a panel discussion led by industry professionals.
Raquel Turnquest, Acting Education Officer, talks about the Curriculum Implementation Exercises -- part of the 2-day Professional Development Workshops put on by the Ministry of Education. Junior and Senior high school teachers participated in workshops at C.C. Sweeting Senior High School.
(BIS Photos/Patrick Hanna)
