We all know that The Gambia is in need of engineers, who would propel and chart a way for the country’s development. For far too long, The Gambia depends and continues to hire foreign experts especially engineers in various fields.
With the coming USET programme in the country, hopes are high that the existing gaps would easily be addressed and ultimately curb unemployment in the country.
Around the globe, many countries have realised that promoting STEM is fast becoming a key determiner in our day-to-day affairs. It is integral and fast becoming a necessity for all countries to inculcate in their teaching and learning syllabus.
In this day and age, no meaningful development is attainable in the absence of STEM.
It is in the news that the University of Applied Science Engineering and Technology (USET) on Thursday enrolled a total of 57 students during its third general students’ orientation and matriculation for class 2023 College of Engineering Students.
These students forming Class of 2023 were sponsored by the Ministry of Higher Education which takes them through certificates to degree level throughout their four-year stint.
At this point, we want to pay glowing tribute to the government and by extension the late VP Alieu B. Joof, who until his demise saw to it that the country’s STEM programme moved to another level.
He believes that promoting the teaching and learning of STEM would greatly impact positively on improving living standards and increasing productivity.
In some developing countries, the quality of educational training in STEM differs greatly between public and private schools. To counteract this, public vocational and technical schools have emerged as a great opportunity to capture and grow scientific talent.
However, The Gambia programme which drew mentorship from reputable Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in delivering the core engineering column, is a game changer.
The Gambia did not only stop there, but went further to reach out to De Montfort University in the United Kingdom in embedding some entrepreneurial training as part of its curricula. This is all anchored on the need to provide a robust and effective curriculum that would respond to the needs of the country.
With such rich curricula from these two reputable universities, The Gambia can only hope for the best upon successful completion of students pursuing degree programmes in various areas.
To the students, such great opportunities are hard to come by these days. The financial difficulties and trying times people and even countries are going through these days is enough to draw a conclusion. So having a full scholarship to pursue a degree programme in one’s own country is a rare opportunity. And what more could they wish for? Take your education seriously and be ready to serve the country.