Crispin Grey-Johnson, the secretary of state for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, has said that human resources constitute the ultimate basis for the wealth of nations as human beings are the active agents who accumulate capital, exploit natural resources and innovate to carry forward national development.

SoS Grey-Johnson made these remarks, yesterday, as he presided over the official opening of a four-day international conference on the theme: "TVET in Africa: Things that work"’ at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi.

The conference - which attracted over 100 international delegates from various parts of Africa - was organized by the Commonwealth Association of Polytechnics in Africa (CAPA) with support from the Commonwealth Foundation.

According to the SoS, the government of The Gambia has long recognized the importance of a trained workforce which possesses technological and vocational skills in the economic and social development process.

"Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is one of the areas of action of the Decades Programme. The goal is to increase the capacity of the education system in member states to provide young people with education that imparts key generic competences, skills and attitudes and leads to a culture of learning and entrepreneurship," he said.

He further emphasized that lack of technically trained human resources is one of the major factors that hold back successful industrial development in some countries.

"In many African countries, one factor that militates against technical and vocational [training] is the attitude of parents and students. TVET is still viewed as a subject for the second rate student who cannot excel in the academic subjects," said SoS Grey-Johnson.

Speaking earlier, Dr George Afeti, secretary general of CAPA, said the genesis of CAPA can be traced to a decision of the Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers at a meeting held in 1997, in Accra. The decision made was to set up a body that would champion the cause of vocational and technical education in Commonwealth Africa.

"It took some time for the association to be actually established with offices in Nairobi, Kenya, but it is worth noting that as far back as 30 years ago, African countries had embraced the idea of skills development as a driver of economic growth and wealth creation," he said.

Dr Afeti further stated that Technical and Vocational Training Education (TVET) can play a critical role in moulding the skilled human resources that African countries need for building and maintaining their economic infrastructures and in enhancing productivity.

Other speakers at the ceremony included Fatou Mbaye, director of The Gambia Technical Training Institutes (GTTI), and CT Akumu Owuor, the chairman of the CAPA board.