According to Minister Gomez, this will help address some of the challenges the Madarasas face in their educational service delivery.
The objective of the tour was for him to have first-hand information about the ongoing developments and challenges these institutions faced.
According officials from the ministry, the information gathered during the tour will pave the way for ministry’s possible intervention under the TVET programmes for a better service delivery.
The institutions the minister visited include: the Al-Hikma University at Talinding, Al-Lisan University at Banjulinding, College of Imam Bukhari Jabanjelly, Hadigala College School of Nursing at Latrikunda Sabiji and the Production and Innovation Centre (BPIC) in Bakoteh.
The tour served as a platform where critical national issues were discussed such as the need for scholarship packages for students, capacity building for staff and need for provision of land space for some institutions.
Speaking at the BPIC, formerly called Bakoteh Multi-Purpose Skills Training Centre, Lamin K. Jammeh, the Bakoteh Ward Councilor and BPIC board member, said that the tailoring center has 31 female students and 1 male student. He said the students are trained to do weaving, wax and sewing among others.
He stated that 25 of the students are on scholarships through the Kacha Foundation where each student is being sponsored with D26, 000 tuition fees. He stated that it is from that fee that they bought all the required materials for the students during their course, paying the trainers and for facility maintenance.
He appealed to the ministry for allocation of funds, noting that there is a backlog of students waiting for scholarship. He further commented on the significance of skills, saying that there could be no conventional education in the absence of skills training.
For her part, Madam Ndey Yassin Touray, lead trainer at BPIC, who demonstrated before the delegation, revealed that she has a curriculum book which serves as a guideline. She informed that the students are well equipped with the curriculum book with vast practical knowledge and determination.
The President of the Hadigala College School of Nursing, Dr. Hagie K.T. Drammeh, revealed that the institution currently has enrolled 1,280 students in its three various campuses that offer Registered Nursing (RN) and Community Nursing.
He appealed to the ministry for the allocation of land for the college to able to operate in a conducive environment and able to enroll more students in the future.
Speaking earlier at the BPIC, Prof Pierre Gomez, the minister, encouraged the management and students.
As Gambia aims to celebrate 60 years of independence in 2025, he stated that celebrating national independence should mean that citizens can work for themselves for sustainable development.
Speaking at the College of Imam Bukhari at Jabangjelly, Professor Pierre Gomez said that those at the Madarasa institutes should also feel and take ownership for the vast development of the nation, particularly in the education sector.
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