We have always emphasis in this and other columns that there is a need to put more emphasis on skills training for young people, especially vocational and technical training.
It is an undisputable fact that skills are important for future employability of individuals, and could boost the overall development of the country.
The country needs well-trained manpower to meet its demand for rapid development, and the need for our youth to be prepared technically for this to happen is paramount.
It is high time our youths started thinking seriously of learning skills that will enable them to provide skilled work for their own personal development, and that of the country.
We should not allow outsiders to dominate our businesses, at the expense of the nationals who should take over those contracts, if only we have the technical knowhow.
It would be very difficult for a country to achieve its development objectives without a well-trained youthful population.
However, the problem now The Gambia is facing is that most of the people who complete school want to have white collar jobs, instead of learning skills that would be more meaningful for self and national development.
People have to understand that the government cannot provide jobs for everyone, but must put in right policies and labour laws that could boost youth employment.
However, our youth should consider joining vocational training institutions in the country to acquire the required skills in order to positively contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.
The danger for the youth not acquiring the right skills is that, if they are frustrated, it can lead them to engage in criminal activities, and even go to the extent of using the back way in search of greener pastures in European countries, as we have seen in the recent past.
Our youth must make hay while the sun is shining very brightly rightly here, since undergoing skills training can never be too late.
