The Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) program is secondary vocational education, based on practical and competency-based education and competency-based examinations. The CVQ is an award that represents the achievement of a set of competencies which define core work practices of an occupational area. CVQ students are expected to demonstrate their competence in attaining the occupational standards of their CVQ, organized in units of study. Students are assessed and judged on each unit and a judgment is made as to whether the student is ‘competent’ or ‘not yet competent’. The CVQ system also focuses on socialization for citizenship, for example: Behaviors necessary to ensure teamwork and cooperation, Effective interpersonal skills, Proper work ethic, and Occupational health and safety.
CVQ’s are available in several industry sectors and occupational areas. In schoolyear 2024-2025 students at the GvP School are in the following CVQ’s:
• Food Preparation & Cookery
• General Construction
• Early Childhood Development
• Welding

In addition to the chosen CVQ, English, Dutch, Math, Social Studies and Electronic Document Preparation and Management (EDPM) are mandatory subjects.
CVQ students are also encouraged to take CSEC subjects as electives.
CVQ students are to attend apprenticeship, as one fifth of the program consists of job training. Students usually take two years to finalize their CVQ. With 
the CVQ certificate, students have several options to further their (vocational) education or to enter the labor market.

CVQ APPRENTICESHIP

Apprenticeship constitutes an important component of the school’s curriculum for the CVQ students. Both Form 4 and Form 5 CVQ students do 30 days of job training during the school year (6 weeks). The first week is from November 4-7, 2024, and the last week is June 23-26, 2025. The students are guided by supervisors on the job site. The CVQ teachers will also visit the students during their apprenticeship, to keep informed of the students’ performance.
Before the start of the apprenticeship an agreement is signed by the student, the CVQ Department Head, the business where the job training takes place and the Raad Onderwijs Arbeidsmarkt Caribisch Nederland (ROA CN). The ROA ensures that the business complies with the quality standards for job training companies.
Each student receives an apprenticeship workbook which must be completed by the end of the training along with a report on their apprenticeship. Students are graded based on their overall performance on the job. This grade can be sufficient (v) or insufficient (o). Students who fail to complete their apprenticeship are required to repeat it to continue or complete their CVQ program. This needs to be done outside the regular school hours.