Standards Development -

What are Standards?

Competency standards specify the Standards of Performance that individuals are expected to achieve in their work, as well as the Knowledge and Skills they need to perform effectively in a specific job role. It is the smallest unit of measure in a Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET) system and is usually referred to as a Unit of Competence.

A Unit of Competence is a specific task or activity in an occupation that is made up of elements of competency together with performance criteria, a range of variables and an evidence guide.

Types of Standards

These are the generally accepted documented requirements that govern the effective and efficient way that operators/members of a specific industry conduct business. Industry standards are set to assist with the safe operation of an entity to include the welfare of employees, worker competencies, product, process, facility, and statutory requirements of that industry. Industry Standards applies to large and small business as well as the self-employed in a variety of categories including but not limited to product, facility, and occupational standards.

These are industry standards that document the responsibilities of the employer to ensure that the workplace is safe and free of hazards for its employees. These standards provide guidance and assistance geared towards protecting employees’ health, safety and welfare in the work environment as well as provide documented risk management procedures for the safe use and protection of customers and other persons who use their facilities. Facility Standards are usually developed and enforced by authorized agencies, such as the Ministry of Health, and specify the minimum requirements for the issuance of licenses and or permission to operate as well as the ability for a training provider/ institution to provide training in a specific area.

These are also industry standards that govern worker competencies that include the knowledge, skills, and attitudes requirements for effective and competent performance in a particular job role. These standards are developed and validated by practitioners and professionals in the industry in collaboration with institutions or agencies responsible for the licensing and statutory requirements of that industry.

Occupational Standards (OS) define the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for effective workplace performance. They specify what a person should know and do in order to carry out the functions of a particular job in the context of the work environment. OS describe the following that a worker must demonstrate in the workplace. These are:

The worker is expected to be able to complete (the task, the job or the function).

What a worker needs to know to provide an opportunity for success in today’s dynamic workplace.

The type of attitude that must be demonstrated by the worker in a work environment.

Occupational Standards

Occupational Standards define the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for effective workplace performance. Standards are the agreed minimum best practice in an Occupational Area and take into account all the necessary statutory requirements. The standards generally:

Specify what an individual should know and be able to demonstrate in order to effectively function in a particular job in today’s work environment.

Identify worker competencies and specializations (jobs) within their occupations.

Establishes the baseline to determine the appropriate training needs of individuals on the job.

Provide guidance for monitoring skills training and assessment.

Function as a mechanism for the identification of training needs within the industry.

Assist with the recognition of the development potential of workers in relation to their performance against recognized standards.

Take into account all the statutory requirements necessary for operation within an industry.

Components of an Occupational Standard

A properly developed occupational standard consists of a number of components as outlined below.

Units– Reflect the function or duty within the occupational area.

Elements– Reflects the tasks to accomplish the duty.

Performance Criteria– Describes the critical outcomes that have to be achieved and the standards of performance required.

Range Statement– The situations or context in that candidates must demonstrate the required competence.

Underpinning Knowledge– The underpinning principles, methodologies and skills required to achieve the performance outcomes.

Evidence Guide– Details the critical aspects of evidence required to deem a person competent.

Employability skills– this refers to the candidate’s demonstrated competence in the following:

a. Communicating ideas and information

b. Planning and organizing activities

c. Working with others and in teams

d. Solving problems

e. Using mathematical ideas and techniques

f. Using technology

g. Collecting analyzing, and organizing information

These are also industry standards that govern worker competencies that include the knowledge, skills, and attitudes requirements for effective and competent performance in a particular job role. These standards are developed and validated by practitioners and professionals in the industry in collaboration with institutions or agencies responsible for the licensing and statutory requirements of that industry.

Occupational Standards (OS) define the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for effective workplace performance. They specify what a person should know and do in order to carry out the functions of a particular job in the context of the work environment. OS describe the following that a worker must demonstrate in the workplace. These are:

The worker is expected to be able to complete (the task, the job or the function).

What a worker needs to know to provide an opportunity for success in today’s dynamic workplace.

The type of attitude that must be demonstrated by the worker in a work environment.

There are two types of occupational standards currently in use across the region. These are:

National Occupational Standards (NOS): These are those occupational standards developed by the national training agency that describes the knowledge, skills and understanding that an individual needs to be competent at a job in a particular territory or country. The NOS leads to an award of the National Vocational Qualifications (NVQ).

Regional Occupational Standards (ROS): These are NOS that have been regionally validated and approved by CANTA and CARICOM. ROS leads to the award of the Caribbean Vocational Qualifications (CVQ).

This is the process of reviewing the occupational standard from CANTA or NTAs in the region by the industry sector to confirm suitability for use in St. Kitts and Nevis. The SKN TVET Council is currently in the process of identifying and establishing Industry Advisory Committees across the varying sectors to validate and adapt the regional standards approved by CANTA for training and assessment towards the award of the N/CVQ.

This is a collaborative and consensus-building process involving the critical stakeholders from industry, training, education and labour. The process includes the following:

Identification of technical/subject matter experts with the requisite knowledge and experience by the Sector Advisor. Committee or Sector Skills Council to form the committee or Lead Body to develop the standard.

Orientation and training of members of the Lead Body in conducting Occupational Analysis: methods may include Functional Analysis, Task Analysis or Developing A Curriculum (DACUM).

Development of the various components of the standard namely Units, Elements, Performance Criteria, Knowledge and Skills, Evidence Guide and Qualification Plan by the lead body.

Sign off on the standard by the Lead Body as evidence that the standards’ development was industry driven.

Endorsement of the standards by the Local Industry Advisory Committee. This will foster buy-in from the industry.

Approval from the SKNTVETC which makes the standards National Occupational Standards.

Regional Occupational Standards

National Occupational Standards

What are Standards?

Types of Standards

Occupational Standards

Components of an Occupational Standard

ABOUT US

The St. Kitts- Nevis Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council was established in 2006 under the authority of the Education Act, 2005 of St. Kitts and Nevis. The TVET Council has been mandated to establish standards and qualifications for the St. Kitts-Nevis TVET system.

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