Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) has delivered the largest-ever consignment of science and technical laboratory equipment to schools across The Gambia, marking a significant investment in the country’s education sector.
At a ceremony held on Friday, 1st August 2025, the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Habibatou Drame, officially handed over equipment valued at $2 million to 29 schools — including 26 senior secondary schools and 3 basic cycle schools.
The event took place at the Rotary Centennial Science Laboratory Centre in Kanifing, where dozens of items were displayed and inspected by the Minister.
Speaking at the event, Minister Drame praised President Adama Barrow’s government for forging a strong partnership with the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development, which supported the procurement. She described the delivery as a historic milestone in the history of The Gambia’s basic and secondary education, aimed at strengthening the teaching and learning of science and technical subjects.
The consignment includes thousands of pieces of equipment and materials across core disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biology, woodwork, metalwork, technical drawing, and home science.
Items delivered range from compound microscopes, calorimeters, and glassware to woodworking tools, metalwork safety gear, drawing instruments, and cooking appliances.
In total, hundreds of different subject-specific items, numbering in the tens of thousands, were procured and are set to be deployed nationwide.
Minister Drame emphasized that this unprecedented investment aligns with the Ministry’s strategic focus on improving the quality of education and practical learning, especially in STEM and technical fields. She also noted that the initiative complements ongoing infrastructure development in schools across the country.
“This is a clear demonstration of our dedication to enhancing education and equipping our youth with the skills needed for national development,” she said.
She urged recipient schools and their surrounding communities to take full responsibility for the proper use, maintenance, and security of the equipment, describing it as a shared national asset that must be preserved for future generations.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to improving learning outcomes and creating a more robust, skills-oriented education system that meets the demands of modern society.
