The National Training Authority (NTA) has been relentless in its call for local colleges and training institutes in the country to regularise their status before the expiration date given to them, in order to avoid penalties.

The officials of the NTA made the call recently during an interview with this reporter at their Kairaba Avenue head office.

Speaking during the interview, a registration and accreditation assistant at the Authority, Babou Ceesay, said there are laid down standards for the registration of training providers, which he explained is divided into seven components. Ceesay said any training institute seeking for registration must be registered either as a public, private or community institute, and show the certificate of the registration. “The certificate must reveal the location of the centre as evidence. Such training provider must have a clear structure and purpose that is the mission statement, development plan, operational policy with health and safety,” he indicated.

Ceesay also told the Daily Observer that the training school must be financially viable and have clarity in all financial dealings and obligations. He asserted that the institute must serve the interest of learners, committed to own people and committed to quality.

Commenting on the infrastructure aspect, he asserted that training schools must have adequate facilities to support the training programme.

“There should be qualified staff for the programmes offered by the institution; therefore all trainers must be registered and given accreditation by the NTA,” he added.

Ceesay went on to also stress that there must be proper administration and recording system in place at these institutions, while underscoring that there should be relevance in training curriculum and programmes delivered. “All proprietors, institute heads and their trainers are familiarised with and aware of the standard for registration and licensing. They are all given registration and accreditation guidelines that spelt out time, condition and the seven standard components, and accreditation of training providers as produced by NTA each time they apply,” he concluded.