A one-day validation workshop on the mapping study of industries in The Gambia ended yesterday at the Paradise Suites Hotel.
The workshop, which brought together stakeholders in different sectors was aimed at validating the study done by Sahel Investment on industries in The Gambia with a view to supporting the National Training Authority to provide complete cycle of skills training to all those in the formal and informal sectors.
The study is also among others envisaged to facilitate a successful implementation of the apprenticeship and industrial training policies which the NTA and other stakeholders like the Department of State for Trade, Industry and Employment and the National Youth Service Scheme are committed to undertake.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Momodou Bittaye, who represented the Director General of NTA underscored the importance of the validation of the study.
According to Mr. Bittaye, demand driven is the new approach to skills acquisition and the Gambia Skills Qualification is based on such concepts. "With the reverse tracer study which was also part of the mapping study, the NTA will be informed the trade areas that are in demand," he added.
For his part, Mr. Jawara Gaye, Project Manager, Department of State for Basic and Secondary Education said the project links formal technical and vocational for the accomplishment of Vision 2020.
Speaking earlier on behalf of the lead consultant, Mr. Abdou Njie noted that Education and Human Resource Development is a key priority and an important factor of economic growth and poverty reduction.
"Recent reports have shown some deficiencies in the provision of training due to lack of links between NTA, government and training providers," he said.