By Mahzouba Maya Faal
The National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA), a technical arm of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) that deals with accreditation and quality assurance matters, on Wednesday, 26th October, 2022 commenced a regional skills competition in Basse, Upper River Region.
The Regional Skills Competition is a component of the UNESCO – KOICA Youth Empowerment through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Project.
The competition is based on five skills areas; namely; block laying, electrical installation, floor and wall tiling, refrigeration and air-conditioning; and tailoring.
In his opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of NAQAA, Dr Gibril Jaw underscored the significance of the competition; saying, it is in line with The Gambia government’s national development goal of improving the country’s skills-based resources.
Dr Jaw further stated that possessing the right skills and attitude helps reduce poverty levels and makes the youth job creators and not job seekers.
Ms Fatou Janneh, the Principal Tertiary and Higher Education Officer and the TVET Focal Person, reaffirmed the commitment of the government, through MoHERST to producing home-grown technicians that will take charge of the developmental imperatives of the country.
She calls on partners to invest in the sustainability of the skills competition so that it becomes an annual event with the hope of further participating in World Skills Competitions.
In attendance was also the Deputy Governor of Upper River Region (URR), Mr Mamanding Ceesay, who spoke on behalf of the Governor.
Mr Ceesay noted that the youth are the future of this country, and as such, they should be supported and guided to actualise their full potential.
The Deputy Governor recommended more social policies, projects and programmes like the skills competitions, to raise the level of expertise of our young people.
In her speech, the Regional Education Director of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), Mrs Fatou Kinneh Sey, stated that the country needs engineers and technicians. Thus, she is optimistic that the regional skills competition will boost the morale of young people to venture into TVET careers.
After the opening ceremony, the first leg of the regional competition began for the 15 young people participating in Basse. Three competitors represented different TVET institutions and workshops for each of the five skill sets. Five winners emerged, one from each skill set.
This round’s winners will participate in the national skills competition mid-November 2022.
They will later be invited to attend the National Awards Ceremony, where they will be presented with prizes.
