The
Education Ministry in partnership with the National Assembly Member for Banjul
North Wednesday inaugurated a taskforce for establishing a vocational training
centre at the former Crab Island School in Banjul.
Speaking
at the occasion, the Minister of Education, Claudiana Cole, said the event to
establish a vocational centre was a milestone that would ultimately impact on
the lives and wellbeing of young people, families and communities as well as
the nation.
She said education is the bedrock of economic
development and skills acquisition is the surest way to self-development.
She
pledges to lend its support to the initiative of the National Assembly Member
for Banjul North to rehabilitate and upgrade Crab Island School into a
vocational training centre.
The
present education policy {2015-2030} stresses that the youth population in The
Gambia if properly managed would provide labour in all sectors, which would
lead to rapid growth with equity, she added.
She
said after conducting a study in 2007 by the former National Training Authority
{NTA}, it has acknowledged that a weak human resource base and substantial
shortage of relevant skill labour constitute a major constraint to economic
growth and poverty alleviation.
Hence,
The Gambia government believes employability and self-employment for youth if
trained would improve job market.
The
Government finds it necessary to develop vocational and skill based training
and also encourage entrepreneurship among young people, she stated.
For
his part, Hon. Ousman Sillah said the inspiration to create a skill centre came
during the campaign tour when he looked at Crab Island as his Alma matter was
abandoned for years.
He
said that as a National Assembly Member his role was to make laws, adding that
he partnered with the Ministry of Education to reconstruct Crab Island to give
back to society.
Mr
Musa Loum, the co-chair of the taskforce, said they have drafted a technical
and financial proposal for the centre.
Mr
Sandigie Njie, a former student of Crab Island said the school was built to
cater for pupils who pass common entrance and also a technical centre.
He
also said the school was known for excellence, discipline and hardworking,
adding that the teachers were well-trained to serve the needs of the students.
