“Strategies for Human Capacity Development in the Caribbean: TVET Approaches” is a special issue of the Caribbean Journal of Education (CJE) that emanates from the first international conference on Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Human Capacity Development that was held in Jamaica during March 4–6, 2012 and which addressed mainstreaming TVET in the Caribbean.

Formal vocational education has been available in Jamaica for more than a century. When the island became a crown colony in 1866, technical/vocational education was given a great boost, although it was not until 1896 when Kingston Technical School was established that commercial subjects were introduced. Industrial Training Centres (ITC) such as Carron Hall(1924), Knockalva, Holmwood, and Dinthill (1930s) were established to provide manual training.

This paper addresses the role of technical vocational education and training (TVET) in economic development for both national and regional development. Also addressed are the key features of TVET for economic development as a tool for all people, and the benefits of TVET. It is argued that TVET can play a critical role in economic growth and sustainability.