By Makutu Manneh
The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology (MoHERST) on Tuesday moved closer to adopting The Gambia’s first National Internship Policy, convening government officials, educators, and other stakeholders to validate a draft framework aimed at improving graduates’ transition from the classroom to the workplace.
The validation workshop brought together representatives from higher education institutions, regulatory bodies, and development partners to review the draft policy and recommend revisions before its final adoption. Officials said the framework is intended to establish a consistent national approach to internship programs, addressing long-standing concerns over graduate employability and workforce preparedness.
Opening the workshop, the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, said Gambian youth possess immense potential, creativity, and resilience but continue to face significant barriers when entering the labor market.
He said employers have repeatedly cited the lack of practical workplace experience among graduates as one of the principal challenges in recruiting young professionals.
Although internship programs are currently administered by the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA) and individual institutions, Professor Gomez said they have largely operated without a unified national policy to guide implementation and ensure consistency.
The proposed policy, he said, seeks to fill that gap by establishing common standards, institutional responsibilities, and coordination mechanisms for internship programs across both 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,” Professor Gomez said.
Momodou L. Tarro, the chief executive officer of the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority, said the agency will develop minimum standards for internship programs while ensuring that educational institutions assume primary responsibility for implementation.
He said the policy also envisions a stronger system of monitoring and evaluation to promote quality, accountability, equal opportunity, and continuous improvement across internship programs nationwide.”The success of this policy will depend on strong collaboration among the stakeholders,” Mr. Tarro said. “Training institutions must integrate meaningful workplace learning into their programs, employers must view internships as an investment in future talents, students must demonstrate commitment and professionalism, and government and development partners must continue supporting initiatives that enhance graduate employability.”
Isatou Auber, the permanent secretary at MoHERST, described the validation workshop as a critical stage in shaping a policy that reflects the views of key stakeholders and responds to national development priorities.
She urged participants to contribute candidly to the discussions, saying their expertise would help produce a practical and inclusive framework that benefits students, educational institutions, and employers while supporting the country’s broader economic and human capital development goals.
The National Internship Policy forms part of MoHERST’s wider higher education reform agenda and aligns with The Gambia’s national development strategy. Officials say the policy is intended to strengthen workforce readiness, promote decent work, improve productivity, and advance the country’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals through enhanced human capital development.
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