By Mahzouba Maya Faal
The Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) has underscored the need to reflect on ways of financing higher education in The Gambia.
Professor Pierre Gomez was speaking during a two-day sector retreat centered on the Financing of Higher Education in The Gambia.
Professor Gomez, highlighted that education is the backbone of any development, as a result, universities and skill centers need to be well equipped to produce experts and technicians who will take charge of projects in the country for national development.
This system, He explained, will make the country to benefit directly from any investment that comes since it will be Gambians who will lead the workforce.
“We need to come out from the retreat with a roadmap, shaping the way forward to addressing this key challenge in higher education,” said Hon. Gomez.
Minister Gomez further suggested the need to maintain students especially government sponsored students in the form of national service scheme as well as student loan schemes to be looked into in order to ease their challenges.
Dr Ebrima Sall, Chairman of Higher Education Advisory Committee (HEAC), stated that the retreat is an indication of the visionary leadership of Hon. Gomez in coming up with ways of addressing the current context. Moreover, He congratulated the ministry for taking the initiative of convening to address the problems of financing higher education which he believes, should be a priority for government.
Hon. Alhajie S. Darboe, National Assembly Member/Chairman of the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) said that the retreat came at a good time with only few months to the budget sessions. He advised MoHERST to do a proper planning ahead of time.
During the presentations, the Director of DPBA, Lamin Ceesay, gave an overview of the MoHERST Strategic Plan, its major programmes, interventions, deliberations and cost. Also, the Director of STI, Mucktarr M.Y Darboe, deliberated on the proposal to establish a national innovation fund. Furthermore, Dr.Muhammed Lamin Sanyang of UTG, presented on the different financing models of higher education around the region and beyond, which serves as a basis for the development of a suitable model for the financing of higher education in The Gambia.
The meeting brought together Senior Management Staff of MoHERST, National Assembly Members, line institutions under the Ministry, Higher Education Advisory Committee (HEAC), among others.