Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute is a post-secondary institution under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education. It is the primary institution in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas providing career and technical education and training to the citizens of our country.
Mission: To provide learning opportunities that enable individuals to be globally competitive and economically independent.
Vision: BTVI will be known for its innovativeness, quality customer care and high standards in preparing adults throughout the archipelago for the world of work.
The first technical school in the Bahamas was opened by Lord Liston on October 4th, 1949. It was located in Oakes Field and was known as the National Technical School. Some of the notable pioneers who laid the foundation for technical and vocational education in The Bahamas included: Dr. Claudus Roland Walker, Dr. William Saul, Mr. Wardle, Mr. J. Flint and Mr. Cecil Curling.
Over the years, the name of the technical school changed several times. However, Technical and Vocational Education and Training programmes offered by the Institution became the corner stone for technical careers in the Bahamas today.
The National Technical School was later changed to Nassau Technical Institute. During 1961- 1962, Nassau Technical Institute consisted of 5 staff members had a population of 100 students. The programmes offered were: Construction, Electrical and Telecommunications, Engineering, Carpentry and Motor Vehicle (Auto mechanics). It was not until 1964 that the first Commercial Department was added. In 1965, a programme for Waitresses and Hotel maids was introduced to Nassau Technical Institute.
In 1966, the name was again changed from Nassau Technical Institute to Nassau Technical College. It was the Honorable George Kelly, Minister of Education who was responsible for implementing a plan for a Technical Centre on Old Trail Road. This became necessary to reduce the overcrowding of students in secondary schools and to provide full time vocational education for students over the age of 16.
By April 1967, a five year expansion plan for training was implemented for Nassau Technical College. The new plan included buildings for a carpentry workshop, two classrooms and a drawing office which were to be constructed on the site of the C.C. Sweeting Senior High School. Programs offered at this time included Mechanical Engineering, Carpentry, Welding, Plumbing, Commercial, Radio and Television Service Repair, Cosmetology, Photography, Painting and Decorating.
Nassau Technical College expanded its focus to the family islands of Andros and Bimini at this time offering the programmes: Auto mechanics and Carpentry.
On August 21st, 1968, the Honorable Cecil Wallace Whitfield, Minister of Education, argued that education was essential to the programs at Nassau Technical College. Consequently, 6 months later, the Technical Centre was opened on Old Trail Road.
By 1971, Nassau Technical College and Technical Centre were amalgamated and renamed C. R. Walker Technical College after the well known Dr. Claudus Roland Walker and in 1974, C. R. Walker College shifted its focus from technical and vocational training to incorporate traditional academic fields.
In 1976, the College of the Bahamas was incorporated with C. R. Walker Technical College.
In 1980, the name was again changed to the Industrial Training Centre (ITC). At that time, the institution turned out a population of over 7,000 persons who had been trained at the Centre. The Centre offered short courses and persons attending received a stipend from the Government. It was also in 1980 that the Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute began with 225 students in shared facilities at the College of The Bahamas, Soldier Road Campus and at the C.C. Sweeting Senior High School Campus. The courses offered at both campuses were exclusively construction programmes.
In 1984, ITC became the sole occupant of the Old Trail Campus. In 1995, the name, ITC was changed for a final time to its current name, The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute. Over the years BTVI offered programmes in Andros, Exuma and Eleuthera.
Today, The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute consist of two campuses: the main campus in Nassau and a satellite campus on the Island of Grand Bahama. BTVI serves all members of the community and offers academic, technical, continuing education, corporate and community training opportunities in a wide range of programmes. Some of the courses offered include Automotive Technology, Office Administration, Business Technology and Computer Information Systems, Construction Technology, Beauty Trades, Massage Therapy, Electronic Engineering, Solar Technology, Cisco Networking, Fashion Trade and Souvenir Manufacturing.
The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute can be proud of its accomplishments and of it being the premier post secondary institution offering Technical and Vocational Education which promises access, opportunity, excellence and hope to each student as it provides learning opportunities that enables individuals to be globally competitive and economically independent.
