The Integrated Development Association (IDEAS) has introduced recruitment of trainees for the Vocational Educational and Training (VET) programme effective 2006.

The introduction of the VET program by IDEAS is to help in the efforts to address the current high unemployment rate, particularly among young people, which is heading to slow down national development efforts.

IDEAS is committed to reducing unemployment which often requires both capital investment and the development of skilled work force that can enhance the quality and efficiency of product development, production and maintenance, and the training of workers with lesser skills.

IDEAS believes skills acquisition is vital for an economy to complete and grow particularly in an era of rapid economic integration and technological change.

VET is one of the most direct and impactful means of providing such skills and thereby capitalizing people to become truly independent and explore employment opportunities such as self employment or getting employment after training. IDEAS therefore includes VET program among the business ventures which have been incorporated and registered in The Gambia and it is part of their (IDEAS’) commitment to contribute towards the socio-economic development of the country.

The main aim of IDEAS’ Vet program is to equip trainees with business, computer, literacy and other market-oriented livelihood skills so as to enable them pursue careers and participate in mainstreaming economic activity.

Another aim of the program is to improve the computer literacy levels of students and teachers to enable them better integrate and utilize technology in classroom instruction. The VET programme is primarily dedicated to schoolteachers, unemployed individuals including young and older people as well as housewives, all of whom must have some competency in English.

The program covers computer literacy from module one to ten; Intermediate level - module one to eight (covering from Microsoft Word to Computer Repairs and Maintenance); Advance level - module one to three; Arts and Craft including Tailoring, Tie-Dye, Fabric production, Batik fabric production, Traditional (country cloth) weaving, Hat making and Sign painting, etc.

The program will also include a business communication centre for all kinds of business communication as well as other business management courses including Accounting and Bookkeeping, organization and management of smallholder cooperatives, attachment programmes, among others.
Programmes are optional, and there are plans for assisting the employment of graduates of the programme.

All those interested in enrolling in any aspect of the VET program can contact IDEAS via Dr Mopoi Nuwanyakpa, General Manager of IDEAS at 9963344 or 4494413; Mrs Grace Adelore at 9906147; or Mr Prosper Flovic at 9924106. Interested persons can also visit the main office situated adjacent to the Cuban Embassy in Fajara (on the right hand side immediately after the Kairaba Police Station is the IDEAS Inc signboard).

Interested parties are asked to come to IDEAS’ office for group discussion at the following times:

1. Morning Discussions: Mondays - Saturdays between 10 and 11 am. 2. Afternoon Discussions: Mondays - Saturdays 4 and 5 pm. A few aspects of the VET program are already underway. However, the program will start, in earnest, in the third week of next month (November 2006).