Vision:
To improve the quality of education for all in order to develop a knowledgeable and skilful workforce capable to transform the Gambia into a developed nation, to meet the needs of 21st century economies with an emphasis on the Sciences and Technology, Languages, English, Mathematics (STLEM), Vocational Training, and “social- cohesion”.
Mission:
Our mission is to provide the necessary resources and institutions to improve the quality of human capital for all, at all levels in order to equip the citizenry with critical knowledge, innovative skills and enlightenment to meet the needs of our changing economy. Moreover, we want to have free 100% education attainments up to year nine (9). To achieve this, we will widen access to education and emphasises the teaching and learning of the STELM, and vocational training depending on pupils’ potentials.
Policies:
The essence of education is to gain knowledge, skills, and attitudes and be enlightened in order to develop a society that innovates and work effectively and efficiently. Therefore, the education system must prepare graduates to the needs of a changing economy by providing the necessary academic, vocational training and hands-on experience. This will require continuous research, training and development of instructors, and students, as well as maintain quality assurance (QA) in order to renew our contextual education needs, and to learn best practices around the world. Our policy will focus on providing the following initiatives including.
- Compulsory schooling from year 1 to 9 with standardised WAEC assessments as well as other contextual national requirements.
- Compulsory culture curriculum to strengthen social cohesion and solidarity.
- Commit a specific percentage of GDP to education.
- Provision of free breakfast and lunch from Nursery to Grade Nine (9), and transport where necessary.
- Reduce pupil-teacher ratio to no more than 35:1 in order to reduce class sizes.
- Conducive teaching and learning environment with modern facilities.
- New teaching and learning hours (8am to 3pm) with 7 months of formal basic schooling per year.
- Introduce compulsory local language, and optional Arabic, Mandarin or French from year one (1) to nine (9).
- Greater local authority participation in education provisions and management.
- One-to one parent-teachers meeting from year 6 to 9 in order to identify pupils’ potentials at early stages for future support
- Disciplinary measures to punish instructors who abuse pupils as stipulated by law.
- All instructors to be trained and to engage in continuous professional development in order to continue to have 100% qualified teachers.
- Students sponsored at higher education and vocational centres must work for the state for a specified number of years.
- Legal provisions through acts of Parliament to formalise policies.
Programmes:
- Build more schools and renovate existing schools with modern facilities to widen access and equal opportunity.
- Introduce free education and meals from nursery to Grade Nine (9).
- Improve the quality of education through training and continuous professional development of instructors and provide incentives to attract the best to teach.
- Parallel academic and vocational training from grade ten (10) and above.
- Provision of educational resources online and mobile libraries to promote teaching and learning beyond the classrooms.
- Introduce a compulsory “culture curriculum” to teach Gambian values, traditions, and solidarity at all levels in order to strengthen social cohesion and democracy.
- Continue to harmonise and strengthen our madrasas in order to ensure alignment between western and religious education.
- Promote apprenticeship and placements to enhance learning and professional development skills.
- Lifelong adult education
- Exchange programmes between Gambian students and some countries in order to increase student experiences and enlightenment especially from Grade 9 and above.