Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, The Gambia) – The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) has announced a nationwide mandatory registration exercise for all private learning institutions across The Gambia. The initiative is aimed at ensuring compliance with the Education Act 2018, which requires any gathering of ten or more pupils receiving regular instruction to be formally registered with the ministry.

The directive applies to all institutions offering Early Childhood Development (ECD), as well as basic and secondary education, including schools, madrassas, magalis, daras, and similar centers of learning. According to the ministry, the registration process will begin on July 17, 2025, and close on October 30, 2025.

All affected institutions are urged to visit the ministry’s headquarters in Banjul or the nearest regional education directorate to obtain and submit registration forms. Institutions are also expected to provide all necessary documentation and information to support their application during the process.

MoBSE warned that failure to comply within the stipulated timeframe will result in the closure of unregistered schools, in accordance with national education regulations.

The ministry emphasized that the registration exercise is part of its broader effort to ensure all learning environments meet national standards for quality and safety and to uphold the rights of children to access recognized and regulated education.

In addition, the move is intended to strengthen the integrity and accountability of the education sector, particularly within the growing number of private institutions. The ministry called on all school proprietors and administrators to treat the notice with urgency and to cooperate fully to ensure compliance.