Marie Benett Skills Training Centre recently held a graduation ceremony for its 19th batch of graduate students at the school grounds in Wellingara.
The batch comprises 21 students of which 17 are girls and 4 boys.
Marie Benett Skills Training Centre was established in 1992 by the Kombo North Federation (KNI) to help school dropouts and less fortunate students to learn applied skills for their livelihoods and national development.
In delivering his speech on the occasion, Nurudeen Mbye, principal of the school, said the students attending the vocational centre come from communities in Kombo North District, which comprises Wellingara, Kunkujang Kataya, Sinchu Baliya, Sinchu Sorrie, Sinchu Alagie, Lamin, Banjulinding and Bijilo.
“Marie Benett Skills Training Centre is the only skills centre in this geographical and vast demographic setting,” he said.
According to Mr Mbye, for 15 years the yearly intake was very discouraging but the story has changed just last year when they registered forty students currently completing their first year of training.
The centre offers courses such as English Language, Maths, Tie and Dye, Batik, Pasty food and Nutrition, Embroidery and Sewing, Secretarial Studies, and Information Technology.
Besides these courses, the principal said, the institution is on the verge of introducing a course on gender, programmed to attract people from far and near.
Dr Lamin Sidibeh from the
Most people don’t know how skills are important to them, he said, whilst encouraging young people to take vocational training seriously.
He also advised them to spend their time well anywhere they find themselves.
