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Photo: stakeholders participating in the curricula needs assessment validation workshop.

A successful workshop for the validation of the TVET curricula needs assessment report was held by the Gambian National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA) in Banjul, on March 5, 2020. It prepared the ground for the next stage of this activity: the development and review of TVET curricula.

Gambian partners and stakeholders have a key role to play in the achievement of the project Youth Empowerment through Technical and Vocational Education and Training in The Gambia, as proven by the wide participation and strong collaboration during the curricula needs assessment validation workshop. Held at NAQAA’s Conference Hall, it gathered 51 participants from the private and the public sector, and consisted of an opening ceremony, a presentation of the needs assessment report, a Q&A session and group discussion of findings, and the presentation of conclusions. 

In its opening statement, the CEO of NAQAA reiterated that the funds allocated for the review and subsequent stages of this activity will go a long way to ensure relevance and quality in the critical areas of TVET, which stakeholders identified in the study. He commended UNESCO and KOICA -the implementing and funding agencies, respectively- for their foresight in providing this support to The Gambia, and particularly thanked UNESCO for trusting NAQAA to lead this activity.

The validation of TVET curricula needs assessment was accomplished in the context of one of the 8 activities of the project Youth Empowerment through TVET in The Gambia and will contribute to its outcome No. 1: Relevance of the TVET system strengthened through supporting the development of TVET policy and curricula in The Gambia. The 4-year project aims 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 as recommended by SDGs 4 and 8.