By Fatou Krubally
The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) Tuesday validated a draft National Internship Policy aimed at establishing a unified framework to improve graduates’ transition from education to employment.
The validation workshop brought together representatives of higher education institutions, regulatory bodies, government agencies and development partners to review the draft policy before its adoption.
Officials say the proposed framework seeks to standardize internship program nationwide and address concerns over graduate employability and workforce preparedness.
Opening the workshop, the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, says Gambian youth possess significant potential but continue to face challenges in securing employment due to limited workplace experience.
He said employers have consistently identified the lack of practical skills among graduates as a major obstacle to recruitment.
Professor Gomez notes that while internship programs are currently administered by the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA) and individual institutions, they have operated without a comprehensive national policy to ensure consistency and quality.
He said the proposed policy would establish common standards, define institutional responsibilities and strengthen coordination of internship programs across the public and private sectors.
“Our objective should be to produce a policy that is practical, implementable, responsive to labour market needs and capable of serving generations of young people for years to come,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of NAQAA, Momodou L. Tarro, said the Authority would develop minimum standards for internship programs while educational institutions would remain responsible for their implementation.
He added that the policy would introduce a stronger monitoring and evaluation framework to promote quality, accountability, equal opportunity and continuous improvement.
“The success of this policy will depend on strong collaboration among stakeholders,” Tarro said. “Training institutions must integrate meaningful workplace learning into their programs, employers must view internships as an investment in future talent, students must demonstrate commitment and professionalism, and government and development partners must continue supporting initiatives that enhance graduate employability.”
Permanent Secretary at MoHERST, Isatou Auber, described the validation workshop as an important step towards developing an inclusive policy that reflected stakeholder input and supported national development priorities.
She encourages participants to provide constructive recommendations to ensure the policy meets the needs of students, educational institutions and employers while contributing to national human capital development.
The proposed National Internship Policy forms part of MoHERST’s higher education reform program and is aligned with The Gambia’s national development agenda. Officials said it is intended to strengthen workforce readiness, promote decent work, improve productivity and support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals through enhanced human capital development.
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