JANUARY– MARCH 2020 Issue 12 ABOUT THE NATIONAL YOUTH COMMISSION

The National Youth Commission (NAYCOM) was established by the Government of Sierra Leone through the National Youth Commission Act No.11, of 2009. It was signed into law by H.E. The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma on 22nd December 2009 and published in the Supplement of the Sierra Leone Gazette Vol. CXLL No.3 dated 7th January, 2010. The Commission is a body corporate with the object of empowering the youth to develop their potential, creativity and skills for national development and for other related matters.

VISION: Youth situated at the centre of the country’s transformation with developed potential, creativity and skills that contrib- utes to national development.

MISSION: reating safe spaces for young To Increase the Productive Capacity of our Youth for Enhanced Participation in Development and Governance at people to engage and develop National, District and Community levels by adopting the following functions: C themselves is critical to youth  Promote Youth Creativity, Potential and Skills for National Development; empowerment. “Safe spaces for youth”  Create of Employment opportunities for the Youth and Develop medium and long term strategies; are built on the premise that for youth to  Initiate Youth Development Programs in collaboration with relevant governmental and non-governmental bodies; thrive, we must put them in the driver’s  Develop National Youth Development Plan consistent with Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP);  Provide Youth Skills Training Programs and schemes in collaboration with governmental or non-governmental seat and ensure they have the tools to bodies; succeed. In all of this, a physical space  Provide a focal point for addressing drug abuse by the youth and its related problems is also very important. Therefore in

OVERSIGHT April 2019, the National Youth Commission with funding support from The Ministry responsible for youth provides policy oversight and support for the Commission. The Ministry spearheads Youth unemployment still remains a major the development of appropriate policies and programmes that will enhance and promote Youth Employment activities GIZ handed over three youth centers to challenge for youth in Sierra Leone. Recent nationwide. It provides support and oversight for the National Youth Commission. contractors for renovation. statistics show that about 80% of the country’s

population is below 35 years. This has become a growing concern with what can be seen as an increase in the intake of drugs by some youth. The National Youth Commission with the mandate to develop programmes that will build the potential, creativity and skills of young people has been implementing various programmes that are geared towards youth empowerment and employment. This however, does not seem to crack the nut on the head. Whilst it continues this drive, the Commission in January 2020 signed a ‘Service Contract’ with Compagnie Sahélienned National Stadium Swimming Pool 'Entreprises CSE construction company at their Brookfields, Freetown camp site in Zimmi , Tel: 232-76-606419 / 232-76-660-640 email: [email protected] district for the training of 1,540 youth in road construction skills along the EU funded Website: www.nationalyouthcommission.sl Facebook: National Youth Commission Sierra Leone Bandajuma- Liberia Roads Project through the Twitter: National Youth Commission Sierra Leone National Authorizing Office (NAO).

Sierra Leone might be losing on untapped skilled human resources page 10 page 1 as the primary asset of many countries, an inadequately educated workforce is still among the most problematic factors for doing business in many countries in Asia and the Pacific. However, the Government of Sierra Leone in 2019 received a credit of $20m from the World Bank toward the cost of the Sierra Leone Skills Development Project. The project supports the Government’s overall human capital development agenda through skills upgrading. The project funding also allows the establishment of a Skills Development Fund. The Skills Development Fund is an initiative embedded in Sierra Leone’s economic development strategy, which emphasizes that the country’s capacity to increase labor productivity depends on its ability to develop skills of its workers and improve the overall level of education of its citizens. As we wait to see the impact of this on the human development capital especially in a country whose youth population is about 40% The guest speaker Millicent Kargbo, Communications Officer of of the entire country we are safe to say that Sierra Leone is yet to un the National Youth Commission, applauded pupils of the Elite Millicent Kargbo -tap it’s more resourceful human capital that will contribute Innovation Club for the great initiative. She said the youth sector Communications Officer immensely to its overall per capita income. wants to see more productive youth that will support the development drive of the government. The Untapped Human Resource A group of pupils from the Sierra Leone Muslim Congress have Mrs. Kargbo noted that the homes play a critical role in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is launched the first innovation club “Elite Innovation” hosted in the development of a child into a productive person. She said viewed as a tool for productivity enhancement and poverty school facility. The vision started almost a year before the launch “sometimes parents underestimate the capacities of their children” reduction in a country. There could be a strong link between the Our Team when three of these boys now heading the ‘inno club’ came up with and in some cases even kill the talents of their children because, proportion of TVET students and per capita income of that country. an architectural design of their school buildings using cards. there’s more prestige in being a lawyer, banker or doctor, than In order to get to that end, many countries have taken steps to EDITOR IN CHIEF Fortunately, the pupils got in touch with the National Youth being a skills person. She noted that the country’s development strengthen policy guidance and regulatory frameworks for technical Thomas Ngolo Katta Commission that was preparing to exhibit innovation talents at the depends on a productive youth force which plays a key role in and vocational education and training and to improve partnerships usual Chamber of Commerce exhibition held every April at the developing the middle manpower. with private sector and employers. EDITOR National Stadium. These boys were given the first shot to showcase Whereas many countries especially in Africa are ahead with such Millicent Kargbo their prototype as the Commission invited key stakeholders from the policies and regulatory frameworks, Sierra Leone has recently in Directorate of Science Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and a host of others. This was also widely covered by the media. 2018 developed a ‘National Technical Vocational Education and WRITERS After the exhibition the boys took back their prototype and were set Training Policy.’ The overall goal of this policy is to support Millicent Kargbo “Employment and Training of Sierra Leoneans”, which the Junisa Koroma (Intern) ablaze to keep on cracking their heads to come up with more government believes will lessen the gap between private sector’s prototypes. Almost a year later, the boys had established a whole demand for skills and the skills that the Sierra Leone TVET system team in their school including six girls who also designed amazing GUEST WRITERS prototypes. According to the president of the club, Mohamed supplies. Therewith reducing poverty and underemployment. Mariama Kai Fornah Kamara, the vison is to ‘have a great team that will provide solution There seem to be more work for the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education as it tries to regularize its TVET standard with DESIGN/LAYOUT to the problems in the country through technology.’ other countries in the world. As it develops a National Qualification David Johnson The team called Elite Innovators Club, did a presentation of their Framework that will harmonize training curriculum across the work which included a hydroelectric system, locomotive robots, country that will fit into international standards, there remains a modern house, excavator machines, different architectural designs PHOTOGRAPHY and many more. Being a science school, the school authorities boast huge challenge in the skills sector. However, we need to note the Yayah Totangi differences between developed and less developed countries in of having “the best resources— equipment and teachers” to develop terms of their first priorities regarding TVET. The first group of the young minds of the pupils to be creative. The Principal Alhaji countries emphasize quality improvement, monitoring and Mohamed Bangura said, the club did not come as a surprise, and evaluation of TVET, the availability of national development plans, they are poised to fully support these pupils as they continue to make them proud. He said “the country needs to move away from that but the second group of countries focus on the cost of enrolment and implementation of TVET. theoretical teaching pattern to more effective and hands on teaching.” page 9 page 2 Continuation from front page 50 Acres for Youth Demonstration Farm in Mokoibondo TVET Youth Profile day. ‘I am very happy for this move I made, I see a brighter future He said the L19 rice seed brand which was cultivated is one of the ahead where I can even provide employment for others.’ best and it is normally harvested between 4-5 months after planning. However, the jingles have not only been beneficial to Nelson alone, He noted that such seeds can be cultivated at least twice a year, but the training manager at SLOIC in Mattru Jong Sharka Kawa because the country’s irrigation system is not developed, that cannot revealed that the ongoing media campaign has immensely happen. contributed to the huge turnout of young men and women to his The commission has now been approached by some youth groups center. and communities to extend the agriculture project to their districts. He said enrollment of young people into the TVET center has Poised to ensure that young people are empowered through its increased between 2019- 2020 from eighty– one (81) to over two various programmes, the commission has had talks with hundred (200) trainees. Mokoibondo in the Western Area Rural district to engage the He cited lack of awareness, poor TVET infrastructure and training community on a 50 acre land offered to the Commission for a youth facilities, outdated curriculum as key contributing factors for the demonstration farm.During the engagement Pa Squire, Community neglect back then. He said the TVET Image Campaign in Bonth stakeholder said they were happy to receive the Commissioner District has manifested positively on various TVET institutions. Ngolo Katta as their ‘community has been marginalized for a very “Pupils who could not make it at WASSEC are now willingly long time.’ He said they have vast land for agriculture and were enrolling for different skills training programmes at the Sierra Leone very pleased to offer it to the Commission for the benefit of the Opportunity Industrialization Center in Mattru Jong” Kawa Nelson youth. emphasized. The Commissioner said, the land will be used to cultivate rice by (Radio Broadcaster) youth within the community. Mr. Katta said the Commission’s Since he left high school in 2009, Nelson Gibrilla Baun has been a youth demonstration farms will be scaled up in 2020 to other footballer in his local community in Segbwema Eastern Sierra districts including ‘Western Area Rural, Kenema, Kailahun and Leone. He later moved to Mattru Jong, Southern Sierra Leone where Pujehun.’ he has been serving as caretaker of a community radio Voice of Mohamed Kamara, youth leader of Mokoibondo Youth Women FM 88.5. Organization applauded the commission as he said their only Nelson is the first to arrive at the radio station every day and starts In June 2019, the National Youth Commission started the pilot occupation in the community is farming. He said with this, they are the day’s broadcast with playing public service announcements and ‘Youth Demonstration Farms’ in Bombali, Bo, Kambia and optimistic that young people will be capacitated with techniques in jingles before the arrival of the morning crew. In April 2019, the Moyamba districts. The farms were established in response to the agriculture. Evangelical Fellowship of Sierra Leone (EFSL) under the TVET agriculture sector contributing about 40-50% of the Gross Domestic With this huge success, it is the vision of the commission to have Image Campaign, a component of the Youth Entrepreneurship and Product of the country and young people being the valuable youth farms across every chiefdom in the country. Employment Project funded by the AfDB through the National resources to support that move. Youth Commission commenced the airing of jingles in major local It was a very good planting season for a first timer in the field with languages encouraging young people to enroll in TVET institutions young people leading in the process. The commission had huge to gain skills. harvest which was distributed to youth groups within the various As he played these jingles every day, Nelson walked up to the communities and paid bank seed loans to the Ministry of Manager of the radio station and said ‘I want to enroll into a TVET Agriculture’s regional offices. institution’, the Manager was amazed and asked Nelson why? He In Fulla town community, Bombali district 13 bags were cultivated said, ‘I cannot be playing the jingles encouraging other young and 60 bags were harvested, Foya Wulleh, Moyamba district 30 bags people to learn a skill when I also need that skill.’ cultivated and 101 bags harvested, Bumpe Ngao Bo district 3 bags He went to the Sierra Leone Opportunity Industrialization Center were cultivated and 16 bags harvested and in Layah, Kambia district (SLOIC) in Mattru Jong and got enrolled into the electrical 31 bags cultivated and 88 bags harvested. installation class, the most recent of other courses like welding, The farm manager at Foya Wulleh, a former staff at the Ministry of tailoring, home management, masonry, carpentry and weaving Agriculture Idriss Fofanah said, the harvest was very encouraging offered by the center. ‘considering the fact the Commission was late to start’ the processes. Nelson started the training in November 2019 and negotiated his He said because of the heavy rains in June that most times ‘affect schedule with the radio station to allow him to attend classes in the ploughing, harrowing and cultivation’, farmers always start morning and report for duty after 2:00 pm when he breaks for the preparing the land as early as April. page 3 page 8 Continuation from front page

In 2010 and 2014 respectively, there have been attempts by previous governments to formulate a Technical Vocational beneficiaries of the Business Development Services organized by Education and Training (TVET) policy. The provisions of the draft NAYCOM. bills in relation to the “Employment and Training of Sierra Commissioner Ngolo Katta said NAYCOM is a resource based Leoneans” placed a number of employment and training institution and for every programme designed there is a need for obligations on companies operating in the country, which the accurate data and information. He said he was particularly happy government believed will lessen the gap between private sector’s ‘that the youth themselves were going out to source this information demand for skills and the skills that the Sierra Leone TVET to exist where training institutions develop their own curriculum, on behalf of the Commission.’ He urged them to be diligent and to system supplies and hence poverty and underemployment. In develop their standards for certification and churn out a huge conduct themselves very well as representatives of NAYCOM. 2018, the new government of President Julius Maada Bio number of TVET graduates who wallow in limbo with no jobs. The ILO Country Director Paul Mayanja said their work at ILO benchmarked human development capital as its core development The policy now makes provision for a national curriculum and revolves around social work and justice which takes into high strategy. In the middle of this the government speaks a lot about national qualification framework with further engagement for an consideration better employment opportunities. He said the TVET and has opened a new Ministry of Technical and Higher ECOWAS TVET certification framework that will give TVET partnership with NAYCOM will explore entrepreneurship skills Education whose mandate is to “provide the enabling environment graduates in Sierra Leone opportunity to employment within the with gender balance to support young people. to build the capacity of individuals with the relevant knowledge ECOWAS countries. Dr. Victor Massaquoi has said that in However, the aim of this is to assess the impact of those BDS the and skills to meet the social and economic needs”, Professor Aiah partnership with Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the African survey assesses the commission’s capacity on the implementation of Gbakima, Minister of Technical and Higher Education. Development (ADB), the Ministry has repaired about ten TVET small and medium enterprises with a strong gender sensitivity on For the third time a TVET policy formulation process has been The International Labour Organisation (ILO) through its Female and centers in 10 districts across the country. According to him, the entrepreneurship. picked up. This time, the Ministry of Technical and Higher biggest success story to this effect is the ‘operationalizing of those Male Operating Small Enterprise (FAMOS) programme supports the Education says a new ‘National TVET Policy’ is ready and will be TVET centers and the development and implementation of a new National Youth Commission on setting up of systems and programmes launched in April 2020. The Director of TVET at the Ministry Dr. curriculum.’ New courses in the curriculum include construction, that will promote gender equality and entrepreneurship whereby Victor Massaquoi said getting the policy was one of the priorities mining engineering and entrepreneurship. In order to be qualified, ensuring female and male alike setup small and medium enterprises of the Ministry since its establishment because ‘the Government of an individual must do four core areas which include; Basic that will provide a means of livelihood to them and their families. Sierra Leone recognizes the important role young people would English, Basic Business Math, ICT and Entrepreneurship, he The goal of the self-check is to identify opportunities for improvement play in the country’s sustainable development in the coming years added. In all of this, a critical element seems to be missing in the in the way in which an organisation reaches out to and serve both through TVET.’ Dr. Massaquoi added that the TVET Policy was jigsaw puzzle, the youth. Here, 26 year old Marie Jalloh, an out of women and male operated small enterprises. This is a systematic developed to serve as a guide to the Ministry and help in school young woman residing in Goderich Community said the assessment to an extent targeting women entrepreneurs. The self- developing a strategic vision to achieve the overarching goal access to practical skills training opportunities especially for girls check is one way in which an organization can collect and consolidate which centers on the ‘development of young people to reduce their found within the informal setting has been challenging. Fees the ideas of its employees and managers, and these contributions can involvement in crimes and provide them with more jobs and charged by Private Vocational centers are expensive, which makes have a significant impact in bringing about innovations and employment opportunities’ through a standardized skills training. it difficult for many young women and girls to find themselves improvements within the organization. Now that a policy has finally been formulated, a critical look at the doing something beneficial. She added that the government has a The International Labor Organization in collaboration with National provisions in this policy will to some extent depict its relevance to big role to play in equipping young women and girls and the Youth Commission has organized a one day training for enumerators its actual purpose. There are six blocks in the policy— improving TVET Policy can be a great tool. In this vein, Dr. Massaquoi said under the Female and Male Operating Small Enterprises Self-Check TVET coordination and management, improving relevance to achieving sustainable development in the country, gender equality Project (FAMOS). training, accessing sustainable TVET funding, enhancing TVET is key within all shades of implementations— ‘because women The enumerators will conduct a survey on beneficiaries of the set standards, developing skills for job creation and promoting and girls have been left behind within the workforce, the Commission’s Business Development Services Project funded by the productivity. As the policy implementation takes a jet ride, the Government has set aside 800 Scholarships specifically for women UNDP between 2008- 2012 in Waterloo, Freetown, Makeni, Bo and Ministry has announced several engagements they have been into who would be going for the TVET with focus on hard skills.’ Kenema to ascertain the impact the training has had on these with other bodies working on TVET. These include the National If this policy is effectively implemented the middle level beneficiaries especially the female beneficiaries. TVET Council, TVET institutions, private sector, National manpower will be developed and indeed the human development The ten enumerators were trained on the use of the KOBO software Council for Technical Vocational and other Academic Awards capital will be reflective of the developments taking place in the and they will use to conduct interviews with 100 beneficiaries. The

(NCTVA) and the TVET Coalition. These engagements are meant country. And it is very important for the government to ensure that survey will specifically focus on significant changes the training has to promote and also sanitize the haphazard structure that used TVET is prioritized to benefit the country’s young population had on the lives of the beneficiaries. Prior to this, NAYCOM/FAMOS estimated as ‘eight out of ten people being under 35 years old.’ organizes a one day assessment survey Interview session for page 7 page 4

Youth Skills Development Bandajuma - Liberia Roads Project

He said, 75% of the company’s staff are Sierra Leoneans and since 1984 hundreds of Sierra Leoneans have benefited from their trainings with some now working in their other projects in Senegal and Mali. He noted that ‘CSE has no need to bring more experts’ when such skill is in Sierra Leone. He added that the young people should be committed to the work as they will be subjected to the CSE work ethics. He said, there are possibilities of extending this project to other CSE construction site in Moyamba, Bombali or Freetown. The communities were very excited and optimistic that this project will provide the kind of benefit they were expecting. The Youth Council Project Officer, Mohamed Kpaka-Gbato Kemokai said the youth remain committed to

Commissioner Ngolo Katta handing over keys of the rehabilitation centres development of their districts. And they will give their full The training will be done in batches over a two year period of the pilot cooperation to ensure a fair process to the benefit of all youth in These centers in Koinadugu, Kono and Kailahun has served as a Promotion Programme III by GIZ is to create a space were young project. Some of the skills these young people will be exposed to are; the district. physical safe for young people in those districts. people across those districts male and female, abled or physically steel bending, mechanical, social work, driving heavy duty machines, Meanwhile, the partner institutions implementing the project with These centers were managed by the District Youth Councils and change can interact and contribute to their development through the surveyors, site engineers, quarry and more. Community engagements NAYCOM, including National Council for Technical Vocational was used as a resource center as well as recreation. With its various activities they will be undertaking. with leaders and youth commenced in Fairo- Sorogbema chiefdom, and Other Academic Awards (NCTVA) and the Sierra Leone dilapidated state before rehabilitation, the youth had no place to In Kabala town, the Commissioner Ngolo Katta and team comprising Zimmi- Makpele chiefdom and Potoru- immediately Local Content Agency in March 2020 visited the CSE construction meet and engage. A beautifully renovated sustainable youth center the District Youth Council Executive, visited a main youth hangout after signing of the service contract. site to fully grasp the types of training they will provide for the with solar panel was handed over to the District Youth Councils and in Kabala town called 'cow yard.' This previous timber market hosts The Director of NAO Ambrose James said there have been many young people and how NCTVA can match those skills for a community stakeholders by the National Youth Commission. dozens of young people some skilled and unskilled who asked for expectations from the communities on jobs for young people. This 'competence base certification.' The District Youth Council will manage the centers for and on government's support for skills training and employment- 'we want to project, he said, will open up a window of opportunity to youth for A tour of the company's soil laboratory and key work sites behalf of the young people in those districts. Commissioner Ngolo stop hanging out here and be productive, but we're also tired of training in construction. He noted that from the government’s side, between Zimmi and Jendema was also part of the field visit as they Katta emphasized that the centers should be used as 'learning and empty promises. ‘this is about the human development capital of the country.’ He prepare to kick start implementation in the ensuing weeks. resource centers' by young people. He asked community added that absorbing young people into such projects provides a more stakeholders including District Councils, Local Chiefs, ACC and tangible outcome for the human development capital. Mr. James said, others who signed as witnesses in the Memorandum of the trainings will empower the young people with the right skills to Understanding to ensure that they 'provide oversight on the use of provide maintenance service in future when CSE would have left. the centers.' He said the Commission will source resources to equip Commissioner Ngolo Katta, head of NAYCOM in his gratified these centers to meet its purpose. statement thanked the EU through the National Authorizing Office Alhajie Koroma DYC Chairman Koinadugu district said ‘we and noted that the high youthful population in Sierra Leone is commit to see the center will be safe, accessible and useful to all ‘worrisome for us’ especially when we have lots of young people who youth.’ He said they have acquired fifteen desktop computers for do not have formal education. These young people are ‘desperate, introductory training in ICT for Chiefdom Youth Councils as well overzealous and have high interests.’ Our work therefore is to manage as the DYC’s. He said this will also be opened to youths in the this by providing skills for youth, he added. He said the Commission’s district. hope is to see these young people employed in order to reduce crime, Alhajie said in partnership with a local NGO Generation for Peace, violence and security tensions around the country. He emphasized they organize counselling sessions with young people on the edge. that, youth are sober potential and if they are skilled in various trades With this he believes the crime rate will reduce and young people to enhance their employability, they can create local economies for will be more productive. national growth. Marta Lo the Head of CSE in Sierra Leone said the Abdul Rahman Swarray GIZ EPP III Koinadugu district said, the company has trained and certified over 300 young people and they are main objective for funding the centers under the Employment very willing to work with NAYCOM on this project. page 5 page 6

Stocktaking of the Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment Project With over 150 approved techvoc institutions, council takes on their role

SALLAY LAWSON Cross Section of Team from ABD/NAYCOM and Other Partners NATIONAL HEAD PRESIDENT COUNCIL OF HEAD TECHNICAL AND In 2018, the National Youth Commission through two consulting A stocktaking of the YEEP since its inception was done in February VOCATIONAL INSTITUTION SIERRA LEONE firms commenced in earnest the implementation of the Youth 2020 by a team from the funding partner AfDB. Alex Yeanay, Entrepreneurship and Employment Project (YEEP) an AfDB funded The Council of Heads of Technical and Vocational Institution Sierra pupils in their different schools. I think it helps them a lot because if Senior Fragility and Resilience Officer of the AfDB said, the mid- project that will benefit over 2700 youth. Leone, was established in 2017 to advocate for technical institutions you don’t know how to handle the pupils, you will drive them away term review ‘is a gateway to a bigger project’, and an opportunity to The project’s biggest component on skills development that is being across the country. They have been in existence before the because already people think skills training is for school drop outs. restructure the project according to the timeline. implemented by Lattazio KIBS is further divided into three formation of the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education but is NAYCOM: How do you work with the Ministry of Technical The team conducted a field visit to partner institutions; Government components. These include the; Business Entrepreneurship, Career now supervised by the Ministry for effective coordination of their and Higher Education? Technical Institute (GTI), Milton Margai College of Education and Advisory and Job readiness and youth skills for development. Three actives. Sallay: The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education is our Technology (MMCET) that are supporting the skills component of main skills were identified; aluminum fabrication which includes Sallay Lawson, the National Head President Council of Head supervisory body and we consult them on all our activities. They the project in western area. carpentry, aquaculture and hotel management and hospitality. Technical and Vocational Institution Sierra Leone in this interview give policy directives to us. We are currently collaborating for a Alex Yeaney, Senior Fragility and Resilience Officer of the AfDB Another component of the main project is the Technical Vocational explains their role. national policy for technical and vocational institutions and they said they were impressed ‘with the impact the project was making Education and Training (TVET) Image Campaign that is being NAYCOM: What is your role as Council of Heads of Technical have been very supportive. in those institutions.’ implemented by the Evangelic Fellowship of Sierra Leone EFSL. Vocational Institutions SL? NAYCOM: What are some of the challenges and gains you have Dora Zainab Kamara a student at MMCET said they were happy for The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness on TVET and Sallay: Our key role is to ensure that our institutions are being made as an organization? the project, but noted that such trainings require more hands on than provide youth, families, stakeholders and the TVET institutions capacitated, organized and working effectively to deliver. We also Sallay: Well our first challenge here is financial and we are theory. She said although the Commission will be providing tools to reason to engage in TVET. Over a decade now, skills training has coordinate the technical and vocational skills in all schools and we constrained to run the council’s day-to-day operations. Secondly, for their institutions that will not be enough for the number of students been neglected and considered as the domain of what most people organize training programmes for our teachers to enable them have those institutions I’m covering as the National Head, they need in the institution. referred to as ‘school dropouts’. The very term sounds a skill to manage the classroom. We organize competition among equipment and teaching materials. You cannot teach a technical skill Commissioner of NAYCOM Ngolo Katta said, the YEEP is an discriminatory and less motivational. schools to motivate them because technical education has been without doing adequate practical and you need the appropriate tools opportunity for the Commission to change the lives of youth in the As the project aims to not only build on the capacity of youth who deemed a place from school dropouts. Technical and vocational or materials to do this. country through the various components of the programme in skills are estimated as 42% of the country’s population and has the energy skills is a very important skills training area if Sierra Leone is to For our gains, we feel humbled and proud that we have succeeded in training and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to develop the middle manpower, but also capacitate key institution develop, we need to pay attention to these set of people in building training youth across the country in the millions. And looking at all Image Campaign. He said he was pleased with the outcome of the hosting the trainings. The Government Technical Institute (GTI) the middle level manpower that drives development. the Technical and Vocational Institutions across the country, every MTR and that the Commission will ensure a smooth conclusion of provides training in aluminum while the Milton Margai College of NAYCOM: How do you normally coordinate your activities? year hundreds of students will graduate from these institutions and the project by December 2020 ‘the Commission will continue its Education and Technology (MMCET) trains in hotel management Sallay: For our teachers training, we ask the heads of schools to many becomes self-reliant. So it’s a gain to us, empowering youth in drive to empower and support young people to make them and hospitality, Njala University Mokonde campus hosts the register the teachers. After the registration, we have a committee these institutions through skills training. Also, as a council employable.’ Members of the mission were Mary Foday, Social aquaculture training. These institution will be retooled as technical that sought out venue, facilitators and training materials. We also capacitating our teachers is also another gain for us. We have also Development Expert and Head of MTR mission. Alex Yeanay, trainings produce more impact if accompanied with thorough engage the heads of schools to monitor and ensure they provide been able to bring heads of institution under one umbrella were we Senior Fragility and Resilience Officer and Hermes Boco from practical. quality skills in their institutions. We also organized trainings for discuss and collaborate for effective operation of our skills training AfDB Regional office. the heads for them to know how to deal with their teachers and centers.