President Adama Barrow recently hosted a gathering at the State House in Banjul to assess the Ministry of Higher Education’s progress and challenges. The meeting, held on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, brought together policymakers, contractors, consultants, and heads of Gambian institutions under the ministry.

Honourable Professor Pierre Gomez, speaking on behalf of the government, emphasized that investing in human capital is a top priority. He highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting Gambian youths by providing quality education, starting with improving infrastructure.

Ministry proposes changes at the Faraba Banta Campus

The Ministry of Higher Education, in collaboration with the government and the World Bank RISE Project, announced plans to establish state-of-the-art national laboratory equipment at Gambia College. This initiative aims to enhance the quality of education and ensure that it meets international standards.

Furthermore, the Ministry proposed changes at the Faraba Banta Campus, including the construction of the School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences. Plans are also underway for resource mobilization to equip the School of Medicine with modern facilities and medical laboratories.

President Barrow’s administration is implementing transformative reforms in the education sector. These include the construction of TVET Centers across all regions and the transformation of the Management Development Institute into a Civil Servants University. These initiatives aim to enhance the professional training of civil servants for more efficient public service delivery.

An annual stipend of $400 per TVET student 

In a groundbreaking move, the government announced that students of the TVET program will receive an annual stipend of $400 per student to support their entrepreneurial ventures upon completion of their courses.

The Ministry also briefed President Barrow on the construction of Lot 2 of the Faraba Banta Campus and the government’s partnership with the MRC Holland Foundation to build a dormitory for UTG students in Faraba.

Progress is also being made on the construction of the University of Science, Engineering, and Technology (USET).

President Barrow expressed his gratitude to the Ministry, its institutions, and donor partners for their support in transforming higher education in The Gambia. The government’s commitment to improving education and creating opportunities for Gambian youths remains steadfast.