J
Kastrup Skills training center in Kembujeh, Saturday hold their first
graduation of twenty-eight students. Twenty of the graduated students were
female and eight male. Two of them were doing building construction and 18 on
tailoring.
Principal
Ebrima Bojang said the skills training center is a byproduct of Kembujeh school
friends; an organisation that supports education of children and young people
in the village.
He
explained that J Kastrup started operation in September 2016 with a total
number of 55 students, of which 20 were male and 35 female. He noted that the center has a total
enrollment of 119 students, comprising 83 female, representing 70 percent and
38 male, representing 30 percent.
According
to him, the center started with building construction and tailoring and other
additional subjects, including English language, mathematics, business
management and information technology to help the students have better footing.
Mr
Bojang pointed out that the skills training center is fully sponsored by the
Danish Foundation under Kembujeh School friends, adding they are one of the
schools in the country where students pay D500 for the whole year as their
counterpart contribution and they will be supplied with uniform, school bags
and shoes.
Guest
speaker Adama O. Faal said technical, vocational education and training is an
integral and fundamental initiative for the socio-economic development of any
nation.
According
to him, vocational and technical skills training in The Gambia has suffered and
neglected in the past, stressing that the ministries of basic and secondary
education and higher education are taking great strides in trying to address
some of the basics, hence the creation of TVET units in their ministries.
He
commended J Kastrup for the successful graduating its first badge, noting that
government cannot do it alone and therefore appreciate the efforts and the
support given to the skills training center by the Danish sponsors.
