Taking a step in making a difference in the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sectors, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST), in collaboration with the World Bank’s RISE Project launched two Sector Advisory Boards for the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Centres of Excellence on Fisheries and Aquaculture (Tujereng) and Agribusiness Ndemban).
The Honourable Minister after officially launching the Boards, emphasised that the initiative aligns with national priorities of food security and youth empowerment. He stressed the government’s commitment to institutionalising entrepreneurship and innovation hubs within the centres to promote employability and self-reliance. “We want our young people to graduate not only with certificates, but with skills to create jobs and businesses,” he said.
Speaking at the launch, Director of Tertiary and Higher Education, Mr. Anthony G. Mendy (Activity Focal Point), said the centres are part of the Higher Education Transformation Agenda to provide demand-driven training aligned with labour market needs. He noted that the advisory committees established will guide curriculum development, governance, apprenticeship, industry linkages and sustainability of the centres. He made mention of, “These specialised institutions will provide high-quality technical and vocational education, modelled on international best practices”.
With land secured and construction designs underway, officials confirmed that scholarships have already been awarded to Gambian students to pursue Master’s degrees in Fisheries and Agribusiness in Malawi and Turkey as future instructors. The centres are expected to evolve into degree-awarding institutions, positioning The Gambia as a hub for academic tourism in the sub-region.
The launching ceremony was graced by the presence of the Governor of West Coast Region, representatives from NAQAA, USET, Fisheries and Agribusiness experts, Youths and Community representatives from Tujereng and Ndemban, and staff of MoHERST. The convergence was chaired by the Director of STI of MoHERST, Mr. Samba Sowe who delivered the welcoming remarks on behalf of the Permanent Secretary.
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