Technical Education: Status of Technical Education in The Gambia Upper Basic Schools

Historically, technical/technology education has always been perceived as "inferior education". It is time for this perception to change. With the high unemployment rate in the country, and the huge skills shortage, it is imperative for society to take a critical look at the role of technical /technology education in our current curriculum and that the present government looked more closely at the impact that the proper provision of technical/technology education would do to the country as a whole. This study focuses on the current status of technical/technology education provision in the country and the fostering of technical/technology education at the Upper Basic Schools in general. It examines the perceptions of principals, educators and learners towards the following The status of technical/technology education provision in The Gambia. Gender issues with regard to technical subjects. Curriculum appropriateness towards the employability and familiarity with the new FET curriculum Value of technical education for Gambian society Pedagogics related to the technical/technology education curriculum

Mr Bai Ndure is a Senior Education officer in the Directorate of Science and Technology Education in the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education(MOBSE)Banjul-The Gambia.He holds a Master of Science in Technical Education with Specialization in Mechanical Engineering at the Islamic University of Technology in Dhaka-Bangladesh