Over 200 students from various disciplines such as carpentry, welding, auto-mechanic, etc, recently graduated from the President International Award Scheme, at a ceremony held at the school grounds in Bakau.

In his welcoming remarks, Ousainou Sarr, the administrative  manager, advised the graduants to be honest and disciplined wherever they  may find themselves, noting that seeking for employment goes with discipline.

For her part, Magaret Newland, the guest speaker of the occasion,  who is from Scotland, UK, said they are here  because of a shared link of a youth program that started over 50 years ago in the UK, as the Duke of Edinburgh award which has now spread to over 100 countries throughout the world.  

According to her, in The Gambia, the program is known as the President International Award Scheme and it is because of this program that they are all part of the same family and she is delighted to be able to share the pleasure of their success. The award program, she said, consisted of the same element where skills, service, physical, recreation and adventurous journeys become part of the program for all young people.

Hon. Sheriff ML Gomez, secretary of state for Youth and Sports, said that  the convocation marking the valedictory ceremony of 2005 PIA intake was timely and a significant chapter in the annals of the scheme's history.  This, he said, is a testimony of  the commitment and the resolve of the government of His Excellency, the president, Dr Alhaji Yahya AJJ Jammeh to creating an enabling environment for socio-economic development as encapsulated in PRSP, Vision 2020 and the MDGs.  

"As we constantly witness our youths desperately attempting to chase their dreams and aspirations across the oceans through the back door, perhaps we as key stakeholders in youth development should take it as writings on the wall that it is time to rethink our development intervention mechanisms, ensuring its core thrust, recognizes also the need of young people", he stated

SoS Gomez assured the PIA that his department of state will continue to support them in their efforts to stay relevant and sustainable in the delivery of excellence to  the young leaders of today and tomorrow.

On behalf of the Director General of National Training Authority, Ousman Kinteh of NTA said the need for young people's service in this country cannot be over emphasized, but must be delivered with diligence, respect and honesty.  There is a need for "operation attitudinal change" as highlighted by his excellency, the president in his 22nd July speech.  This can be best achieved through voluntary means from society and lunge you to be amongst the first volunteers."  

He stated. "In The Gambia and the world at large, it is the young people who highly constituted the total work force.  But generally speaking, they are the same people who have inaccurate, insufficient and stereotyped knowledge and appreciation of job and would characterise blue-collar occupation, such as carpentry, mansory, welding, sewssing etc are seen as inferior to white-collar jobs such as clerical accounting, administration etc and it is the young people who are mostly discouraged by others to take up technical, vocational education and training.