The ceremony was presided over by His Excellency Mohammed B.S. Jallow, Vice President of the Republic of The Gambia, who hailed the event as a celebration of achievement, resilience, partnership, and national progress.
“You are graduating at a time when The Gambia urgently needs skilled, competent, and innovative young people to drive economic growth, industrial development, and self-reliance. The skills you have acquired place you in a strong position to contribute meaningfully to national development, whether through employment, entrepreneurship, or further skills advancement,” VP Jallow told the graduands.
He urged the graduates to remain disciplined, innovative, and committed to excellence, stressing the importance of professional ethics and lifelong learning.
VP Jallow emphasised that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is central to the government’s human capital development agenda and a key pillar of the National Development Plan, which prioritises skills development, youth employment, and inclusive economic growth.
“Institutions such as the Crab Island TVET Foundation are not merely training centres; they are engines of transformation. They bridge the gap between education and the labour market, equipping young people with practical, market-relevant skills that enhance employability and productivity,” he said.
He noted that the growth of the Crab Island TVET Foundation reflects sustained collaboration between the Government, partners, and institutional leadership, with state support playing a vital role in creating an enabling environment for quality training.
Graduates were trained in diverse fields including Electrical Installation, Solar Installation, Information Technology, Plumbing, Tailoring, Cookery and Pastry, Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy, Auto Mechanics, Welding and Metal Fabrication, Carpentry and Joinery, Construction, and Satellite and CCTV Installation.
Mr Matarr John, Director of the Centre, highlighted that these courses are market-driven and aligned with the Gambia Skills Qualification Framework (GSQF), developed by the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA).
“Crab Island TVET Centre also uses a competency-based format that allows trainees with little or no formal education to access training through simplified methods. This enables them to acquire relevant knowledge, skills, and formal qualifications to improve their livelihoods,” Mr John explained.
He added that the Centre’s model supports job placement and monitors employability outcomes, noting its impressive results since inception.
Mr John revealed that the Centre’s fourth cohort achieved a 97% competency pass rate, while the second cohort recorded an outstanding 99.1%.
“We have registered remarkable results and we hope to carry on with this performance. We are not only interested in integrating vertically, but also horizontally,” he said.
The graduation ceremony concluded with the official inauguration of a new one-storey building comprising twelve classrooms, constructed by the MRC Holland Foundation. The facility was formally handed over by Vice President Jallow, further strengthening the Centre’s capacity to deliver quality vocational training.
