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Momodou
Denmark
11832 Posts |
 Posted - 22 Nov 2006 : 15:53:31
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Foroyaa Editorial
The Future Generation
What does the future hold for the future generation, our ambitious youth and children who are ready to go against the tide and to scale all height in order to make a living? What does the future hold for those would be sojourners who risk their lives in order to become meaningful to their families? What does the future hold for those proud and dignified young people who would rather die than live in shame because they are being treated like thrash by their families since they cannot contribute financially or economically to a family that quite often lives from hand to mouth?
It is easy to make sweeping statements like “The youth are lazy,” or “Gambians are lazy.” It is easy to blame Gambian youths for not taking advantage of training facilities or productive ventures in order to get out of poverty. But what is the reality?
The secondary or tertiary education of many youths is discontinued or interrupted incessantly because of the inability of their parents or relatives to pay expensive fees. How many parents can afford to pay fess like D2500 or D3900 annually for their children’s secondary schooling? How many can afford to pay D14,000 or D16,000 a year for University education? How many can afford to pay D3000 to D4000 for skills training?
More than a hundred students approach our offices every year to complain of being driven away for lack of payment of fees and to seek sponsorship.
On the other hand, many leave school only to roam the street endlessly without any prospect of a job.
The reality is that many youths are leaving school just to join the pool of unemployment because the net rate of unemployment is stagnant. There is need for growth in the productive sectors in order to generate employment so that the youth can be employed. Otherwise they will continue to head for Europe in search of greener pastures. With the prevailing condition, this trend is unstoppable. No amount of force or law can stop it. This is evident from statements made by returnees.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 102/2006, 20-21 November, 2006
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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