By Mama A. Touray
At least fifty students of auto mechanics, air conditioning maintenance, and digital literacy amongst others were certified by UNESCO through the Ministry of Higher Education Research Science And Technology (MOHERST) last Thursday after the successful completion of their academic training programs.
Speaking at the event held in the Ministry’s office in Bijilo, Mutarr NY Darboe, Permanent Secretary representing the Minister of Higher Education Research Science And Technology said the purpose of the training is to equip students with skills and knowledge in TVET.
PS Darboe added that the program was designed to provide participants with a handsome experience while also teaching them relevant theoretical principles on TVET.
“Throughout the one-month program, participants were exposed to a wide range of topics ranging from auto mechanics air conditioning and maintenance, digital literacy,” saying he is sure that the participants have learned vehicle maintenance, how to repair and diagnose as well as the latest technology and techniques used in this industry.
On his part, Edward C Mensah, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneur said the one-month training will strengthen the University of Science Engineering and Technology (USET) in delivering its mandate while urging the beneficiaries to make the best use of the knowledge gain.
He added that they want to respond to the needs of the people of the Gambia but can only do that through capacity building while thanking the lecturers for responding to their call and also for conducting the training.
“To earn a certificate is one thing, but to participate and show that you have acquired the skill is another thing, I will challenge you all that this training should not end with you but it should be the beginning. Because we want to see the multiplying effect and the step-down training,” he said.
Senior Program Officer of NATCOM UNESCO, Lamin Jarjue congratulated the participants for the successful completion of the training, saying such training is important to their institution.
“The Gambia National Commission for UNESCO is very prominent in terms of its activities in education. As we speak this biennium MOHERST has been fortunate to have two projects funded under the UNESCO participation program for 2022 to 2023 one has just been completed today, while another one is going to start very soon and this also has to do with STEM education,” he disclosed.