The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) multi-sectoral Regional Office for West Africa in partnership with the Gambia’s Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology(MOHERST) have on Wednesday validated the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) program to tackle youth underemployment in The Gambia.
The project is also meant to create an enabling environment that will give young people, especially girls, a better chance of finding decent employment by providing them with lifelong learning opportunities.
Funded by the Republic of Korea through the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the project is meant to reinforce the technical and vocational education system in The Gambia.
Badara Joof, the Minister for Higher Education said when the government took over in 2017, they had to rethink higher education and vocational training altogether. He urges the youth to make the best use of the TVET opportunities presented to them as it will go a long way to help them realize their dreams.
Mr. Joof added that for Gambian youth to be engaged in a gainful way, they need to be well equipped with the necessary skills needed for employment to contribute meaningfully in life. “This project is going to be a legacy for the youth of this country.”
Dr. Dimitri Sanga, Director of UNESCO, Dakar said the project has a unique purpose of creating an enabling environment for young people in The Gambia, especially girls to tackle underemployment.
“We are ready to help the government of The Gambia to realize this important dream,” says Namsoon Lee, Representative of KOICA, the funder of the TVET Gambia project.
According to The Gambia Labor Force Survey (2018), the underemployment rate is estimated at 35.2% and females are the most affected.
