JOB MARKET EXPECTED TO TIGHTEN AS IBC GRADUATES DOZENS OF YOUTHS

As increasing number of young Gambians graduate, the job market becomes tighter. However, as Amat JENG writes, there is always an exit point, especially if one studies professional subjects like business management and marketing.

Hon Fatim Badjie

Despite expectations that the unemployment rate will simmer down, with government’s introductions of new employment schemes, doubts are in the air that this could not be easily realised as more young people with required qualifications continue to queue for employment opportunities.

Added to this situation, is the recent graduation of more than hundred young people with Higher National Certificate (HNC) and Higher National Diploma (HND) qualifications obtained at the International Business College (IBC) of The Gambia. These young college graduates have now been ‘let loose’ to go on looking for employment opportunities, especially white-collar jobs, armed with their HNCs and HNDs - two educational prerequisites that are vital to winning employment chances in the country.

But as the Minister for Health and Social Welfare, who was the guest speaker at the fifth graduation of IBC held at the Paradise Suites Hotel on Saturday said, young people should be ready to take up the challenge posed by life amidst “our struggle for socio-economic development”.

Hon. Fatim Badjie was referring to a motivational chronicle she gave earlier in the ceremony on why ‘education is a key to one’s personal development’.

“Education is supposed to develop or evolves into the level of knowledge of understanding; and that is really what will help you after you graduate,” the health minister said.

“Some people say life is hard, because the test comes before the lesson; but in school, is the other way round: the lesson comes before the test.”

Hon. Badjie commended the students for their efforts in trying to learn the meaning of self-management, which is key.

Years ago, when it comes to higher education, it all depends on the government, but with more institutions like IBC producing responsible citizens who are expected to drive the country’s economic growth, young people are expected to hunt for knowledge and understanding of the issues that circumvent their lives.
This is why, the minister made it clear to these new graduates: “When you have a degree you normally think you can have a job, but what I have learned is that when you have a degree, is like a ticket to an interview,” the minister says.

“When you get there for the interview, you must be able to articulate; you must be able to show that you can apply yourself; you must be able to show the advancement you have been able to gather over the years.”

She urged the graduands to be able to look at their behaviour and mannerism in order to cut through some of these job markets, especially for those of them who have studied business and marketing.
Minister Badjie said institutions such as IBC should be expanded to reach rural communities, for those there to increase their chances of enjoying the same learning opportunities.

For Modou Ceesay, the CEO of the college, his institute has paddled through hard times to be able to achieve what it does today. This, he said, is as a result of all the stakeholders’ endeavours to making the college a valuable learning institute where everyone takes pride in learning.
The school has introduced a ‘Graduate Diploma’ course for its students; which will enable under-privileged students who could not make their way through the job market or travel abroad to do this programme in the school.

“Like every institute or university, we also have the legal right or mandate to offer a BSc [Bachelor of Science], but now we are walking on that together with the University of The Gambia,” he added.

He advised the general public to be wary of the institutions they enroll their children, saying there are institutions offering professional studies, rather than academic studies.

“Most schools are running professional qualification courses - I am not saying professional qualification is bad. If you look at the difference between professional and academic: the academic will teach you all that you need to know; give you the definition, and all the rules you need to know at the workplace. The professional [qualification] will only teach you what you need to do in the office.

“At the end of the day all your mental focus is going to be on what to do, but not on what you can do. You cannot try to realise your potential with this professional education.”

International Business College was established in 2003, but clouds of absolute transformation and development began to rain in the school in 2007, when Ceesay and few others took the mantle of affairs. Today is a different ballgame altogether.