By Isatou Colley
During their engagement on Day3 of the ‘meet the people’s tour’, the minister of Works and Infrastructure laid the foundation stone for the construction of the University of Science, Engineering and Technology in Wassu CRR.
The skill center is funded by MRC Holland and the trade areas will consist of Plumbing , General Agriculture, Automotive engineering, Mechanical engineering, carpentry and joinery amongst others.
Speaking on behalf of the president, the Minister of Works Ebriama Sillah said the establishment of the center will promote the teachings of TVET education which is a critical input; adding that the center will play a crucial role in helping trainees use entrepreneurial skills for development, which includes building the critical minds of Gambians in high-skilled areas.
“the project is expected to accomplished to increase access and show irrelevance and quality by expanding TVET education to this part of The Gambia, and by providing skills to trainees with quality programs for skills development“, he said.
The minister of Higher Education Research, science and technology Prof Pierre Gomez thanked the people of lamin Kanteh for the support and their partnering, adding that the center will also serve as a dormitory for both the lecturers and the students; urging the youths of lamin Kanteh and wassu to take ownership of the project.
For her part, Henrietta Sonko, the Country Coordinator of MRC Holland said her foundation is committed to support the Ministry of Higher Education Research Science and Technology and the government in providing quality and accessible education to all Gambians, particularly, youths The government of The Gambia and its partners like MRC Holland foundation takes the Technical and Vocational Education Training very important – as an advance initiative to ensure young people of The Gambia have access to quality skills training to stay in their communities, get the necessary jobs and employment first, to decongest towns and cities; but also, to discourage the backway syndrome in the country.
Chief Pierre Bah thanked The Gambia government for such an initiative, adding that the skill center came at a time that will serve a lot of purpose and will also prevent the youths of CRR not to take on the risky journey of the back way.
The objectives of the Technical and Vocational Education Training Center of the project aims to provide quality and equity of TVET education system through responses to society’s need for high quality human capital that will enhance the country’s competitiveness in the global market and the project will make the tertiary and higher education sectors more responsive to labour market demands.
