By Omar Bah
The Gambia’s Minister of Higher Education, Professor Pierre Gomez, underscored the importance of transformative vocational and technical education during China’s 2024 World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference. He pointed out the skills gap that affects both The Gambia and Africa, asserting that “education is the key to economic liberation.”
Gomez introduced initiatives such as establishing a higher education trust fund, a student loan scheme, and a research and innovation fund to align education with industry needs and adequately prepare students for the workforce. He believes education can help mitigate rural-urban migration and stresses the vital role of public-private partnerships and international collaborations in enabling successful reform. Inspired by China’s investment in education, Gomez advocates for enhanced intra-African cooperation to elevate communities through education.
