40
•
the establishment of a UWI South Campus in Debe
•
UTT Campuses at, O’Meara, Pt. Lisas, Chaguaramas and Centeno
•
the Seismic Research Centre and Canada Hall at the UWI St Augustine Campus
152.
Over $250 million has been projected for the period 2014 to 2016 for the College of
Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT) to continue work
which commenced in fiscal 2012 and is premised on the College maintaining its accredited status
and establishing a platform for its sustainable development in the short to medium term. Key
initiatives are therefore focused on facilities development in order to ensure that the College is
able to respond to market demand and can continue to meet its mandate to broaden access and
increase participation. COSTAATT’s initiatives and strategies proposed for implementation are
aligned to Government’s strategic objectives particularly as it relates to the Strategic Priority of
Poverty Reduction and Human Capital Development.
153.
COSTAATT’s programme of activities over the period 2014-2016 will include the
establishment of a campus on thirty (30) acres of state land located at Pierre Road Connector,
Chaguanas. The building, estimated to cost $137.9 million for construction and outfitting, will
provide 75,000 square feet of space for teaching and learning, with an enrolment capacity of
three thousand (3,000) persons. Other initiatives planned are as follows:
•
the development of a comprehensive facilities master plan to guide its facilities
design and construction programme
•
the reconstruction of the North Learning Centre
•
the upgrade of library and library services collection
•
the implementation of Phase II of the Nursing Training facility at El Dorado
•
the development of new academic programmes
•
the development of a Health Sciences Research Institute at El Dorado
154.
This expansion of COSTAATT is in line with its role as a National Community College
catering to the needs of the wider society and providing for different modes for articulation into
higher levels of education and training in order to meet Government’s goal of achieving a
participation rate of sixty percent.
155.
The National Library and Information System (NALIS) which falls under the purview of
the Ministry of Education, will continue to implement its programmes at an estimated cost of
$150 million for the period 2014 to 2016. The NALIS network of public libraries and those in
schools, Ministries and Departments, is essential to the achievement of the government’s Goal of
Human Capital Development.
156.
Recognizing the importance of libraries to the provision of information especially to rural
communities, NALIS has begun a programme of expansion of public library services using pre-
engineered construction methods. Accordingly, NALIS plans to construct libraries at Moruga,
Arouca, San Juan, Caroni, Tunapuna, Fyzabad, Oropouche, Naparima, Pointe-a-Pierre, Diego
Martin and Penal. Additionally, existing libraries will be refurbished in concentrated population
