Apprenticeship in Gambia

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in The Gambia covers practical and occupational learning in areas such as mechanics, welding, masonry, jewellery, carving, sewing, commercial vehicle driving, commerce, accounting, construction, engineering, information and communications technology, agriculture, tourism and hospitality. Formal programmes are offered by public and private institutions, NGOs, community organisations and projects. Examples of training venues include the Institute of Technical Training, formerly GTTI, GTMI, Gambia College, GTHI, GSI and Njawara Agricultural Training Centre. The current register of public and private tertiary and TVET institutions is maintained through the national quality-assurance system, so a provider and programme should be checked before enrolment. Traditional apprenticeship is mainly workshop-based and is led by a master-craftsman. It is especially common in the informal sector and usually provides much more practical training than theory. There is no single national standard for its contract, fee, allowance, working hours, safety arrangements or complaints procedure. Duration depends on the trade and the master-craftsman and often lasts one to three years. The available 2019 survey found that 79% of apprenticeship provision in Kanifing LGA was delivered through this model; that figure is a historical baseline, not a current national share. Traditional apprenticeships are often male-dominated, although access depends on the trade, provider and workplace. Formal TVET follows structured programmes and may lead to qualifications under the Gambia Skills Qualification Framework (GSQF). The framework has seven levels. Level 1 includes Foundation Certificate 1 and 2 programmes, each requiring at least nine months and 30 credits, and is accessible to adults, early school leavers and learners from informal or non-formal backgrounds. Prior qualifications are not always required. At Levels 1 and 2, English may be supported by another teaching language, while mathematics can be taught through field-related numeracy. Higher levels can include practical training, entrepreneurship and progression to employment, self-employment or further qualifications, but a qualification does not guarantee a job or automatic placement. The National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA) registers institutions, accredits programmes, supports quality audits and oversees assessment and certification for Gambia Skills Qualifications. Trainers, assessors and verifiers may also require the relevant licences. A certificate from an unaccredited programme may not receive NAQAA recognition or validation and can create difficulties for employment or further study. Practical assessment is central to competence-based programmes. Apprenticeship, workplace attachment and other practical experience may contribute evidence, and APEL/RPL can assess prior learning from work experience, incomplete study, self-directed learning, informal learning or foreign qualifications when the relevant process is available. Completing a traditional apprenticeship with a master-craftsman does not automatically create a nationally recognised qualification. Responsibilities are divided across public bodies. The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology handles post-secondary and tertiary TVET, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education covers basic and secondary TVET, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports supports some skills centres. The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment links training with labour-market needs and employer-demand on-the-job training. NAQAA handles registration, accreditation, quality assurance, assessment, certification and recognition. The National TVET Policy 2021–2030 provides the current policy framework. A National Apprenticeship Policy draft was taken to a validation workshop on 14 August 2026, but proposed duties such as standard contracts, welfare protection, mentor obligations and a national dual model should not be treated as established law unless enacted and implemented. Costs vary by provider and training form. A 2019 survey reported average annual tuition of about GMD 15,000 for institution-based TVET, while most surveyed programmes charged less than GMD 5,000 per year. Public providers may receive government funding, while private provision commonly combines tuition and donor support. No national standard fee or financing rule has been established for traditional apprenticeship. The NYSS Apprenticeship Training Program in 2025 supported 150 young Gambians for two years with tuition and a stipend funded by the Government and UNDP; this was a programme-specific arrangement, not a general entitlement. The NETT Levy supports quality assurance rather than creating a universal apprentice subsidy. Training opportunities are concentrated in the urban area around Banjul and Kanifing. The 2021 policy baseline estimated that about 75% of accredited TVET providers were located there, while rural provision was narrower. Transport, equipment and affordability can therefore affect access. Some initiatives, including TekkiFii, the Youth Empowerment Project and the Job, Skills and Finance Project, have helped connect training centres, master-craftsmen, employers and work opportunities. Internships, industrial attachments, job fairs, incubators and self-employment support can assist the transition, but none guarantees employment. When comparing an apprenticeship in The Gambia, check who supervises the learning, what practical work and theory are provided, the total cost and duration, safety arrangements, assessment method, accreditation status and the qualification or work evidence obtained at completion.