By Mahzouba Maya Faal
Members of the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Committee sub-groups recently converged to finalise the Operational/Masterplan of The Gambia’s 1st National TVET Policy document for its implementation.
The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) organised the meeting with support from the International Trade Centre (ITC).
In his opening statement, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Technical) Mucktarr M.Y Darboe noted that a TVET Policy Master plan is a crucial step in ensuring the country’s education and training systems align with the needs of the workforce.
“The National TVET Policy outlines the government’s commitment to providing quality TVET opportunities to all students. It sets clear directions for the development of the TVET sector,” said DPS Darboe.
In order to effectively implement the Policy Master plan, the DPS underlined key steps to be taken including the need for an effective coordination mechanism between the government, industry and TVET institutions; the need to focus on the quality of TVET programmes to ensure the curriculum is up-to-date and relevant; and the need to wire monitoring and evaluation into the operationalisation plan in order to measure progress.
Yusupha Keita, Technical Advisor and Coordinator of the Job, Skills and Finance Programme at ITC, remarked that the Masterplan should be a strategic guide for the TVET ecosystem in The Gambia.
For Theresa S. Diarra, Director of Operations at The Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), the Chamber is pleased with the level of progress registered and looks forward to the successful implementation of the Masterplan.
“We want young people to see TVET, not as a secondary option or last option, but to see it as a first option just as equal to going to the university,” Ms Diarra stated.
In his presentation, the Director of Tertiary and Higher Education of MoHERST, Anthony G. Mendy, gave an overview of the TVET Policy Operational Plan which was subjected to debate and relevant inputs from members of the National TVET Committee sub-groups.
