By Fatoumata Joof
The Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, accompanied by the senior management of the Ministry and the University of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology (USET), embarked on a two-day assessment visit to Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres located in the Central, Lower, and Upper river regions of the country. The tour, which was conducted on Tuesday, 6th and 7th August 2024, included visits to Madina Lamin Kanteh Multi-Purpose Skills Centre; Julangel Skills Training Centre; and Mansakonko Skills Training Centre.
The primary objective of the visit was to gather first-hand information on the status and challenges faced by these TVET centres to help provide solutions to those challenges to improve their effectiveness and efficiency.
The Minister and delegation’s first point of call was at the Wassu Madina Lamin Kanteh Multi-Purpose Skills Centre in CRR North. The centre, funded by the MRC Holland Foundation and Brighter Future, in partnership with the Government of The Gambia, is currently under construction. Here, the Minister and delegation were received and taken on a conducted tour by the contractor and Governor of CRR, Mr. Ousman Bah.
Speaking at Wassu Madina Lamin Kanteh Multi-Purpose Skills Centre in CRR, Honourable Gomez commended the contractor for the progress of the work, and emphasised his Ministry’s commitment to decentralising TVET to make it accessible to students across the country. He thanked MRC Holland Foundation and Brighter Future for investing in education and for partnering with the Government. He underscored his Ministry’s agenda of decentralising TVET education in order to ensure that students stay in their regional TVET centres, where they can study and at the same time have good accommodation and security. “This is the objective we have in mind and under the directives of President Barrow, we are working towards getting these structures ready in Wassu.’’
The Minister explained that the multi-purpose TVET centre will offer courses in general agriculture, electrical, plumbing, construction, and automotive. He further informed that the Ministry will establish a centre of entrepreneurship and innovation to prepare students to start their own businesses after graduation.
Minister Gomez then announced that once the centre is fully constructed, The Gambia government will provide scholarship, stipend and support graduates in their startups.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry, Dr. Yusupha Touray gave background to the Ministry’s TVET decentralisation drive and efforts being made towards ensuring youth employability. He reported that the Ministry is engaged in various capacity development initiatives that will ensure there is a skilful citizenry.
Giving an overview of the project, the contractor, Mr. Dembo Bah, assured of quality and timely delivery of the work, and informed that the centre comprised 12 classrooms,32 dormitories (each with the capacity to house 4 students), administrative building, staff quarters, workshops for practical, cafeteria, water borehole and toilet facilities.
Jimmo Juwara, the Alkalo of Madina Lamin Kanteh and the Governor of the Central River Region Ousman Bah, both expressed delight at what they described as a life-changing project for the people of CRR and The Gambia as a whole.
From Wassu Madina Lamin Kanteh Multi-Purpose Skills Centre, the Honourable Minister and delegation proceeded to Julangel Skills Training Centre in Jimera, Upper River Region, which is under the University of Applied Science Engineering and Technology.
At Julangel Skills Training Center, Minister Gomez inspected the newly built state-of-the-art dormitories. He said his ministry will continue to work with its partners to bring more equipment and also renovate the center. He promised that his ministry will continue to work with the center manager to expand the poultry and agriculture component of the center, and assured that the centre will be fully refurbished and fitted with modern equipment to train the youths with the necessary skills.
Ebrima Bojang, the Centre Manager, informed that the Centre offers courses in plumbing and pipe fitting, electrical installation, tilling and plastering, information technology, poultry management and horticulture.
He reported that in the 2023/2024 academic year, the centre enrolled 106 students comprising 69 male and 37 female, who are currently on attachment in different institutions.
The Registrar at University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology, Mr. Alieu Badara Saine, spoke on the need to prioritise skills training and the importance of revamping the centre to attract the young people into skills learning. This, he believes will curb rural urban drift and irregular migration.
At the Mansakonko Skills Training Center, Minister Gomez and delegation were received and taken on a conducted tour of the state-of-the-art building, dormitories and workshops by the Centre Manager, Mr. Wandifa Fatty. Minister Gomez expressed good impressions about the quality of the fully-equipped dormitories for the students and noted that the innovation and entrepreneurship components will be included in the centre.
Mr Fatty explained that the dormitories are timely and will go a long way towards addressing the issue of accommodation for students.
He said the centre provides courses on electrical installation, solar technology, plumbing and gas fitting, rural mechanics, welding and fabrication.
Mr. Fatty reported that 136 students are currently enrolled in the center, but that the capacity he stated, can accommodate up to 200 students.
The tour concluded with a community engagement between the Ministry’s senior management and the community of Sinchu Yoro Dembel.
The community of Sinchu Yoro Dembel Village in CRR has donated land for the construction of an agribusiness TVET centre in CRR South.
The trip provided first-hand information to the Hon Minister and delegation about the great efforts being made to ensure TVET education is decentralised and made accessible to every Gambian, as in line with the MoHERST Strategic Plan (2021 – 2025).
