By Fatoumatta Joof
The Deputy Permanent Secretary (Admin &Finance) at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Mr. Demba S. Bah, on behalf of the Hon. Minister and Permanent Secretary, on Monday, 6th November, 2023 received in audience the visiting delegation from the Regional Maritime University (RMU), Ghana. The delegation comprised Dr. Jethro W. Brooks Jnr., Ag. Vice Chancellor; Dr. Stephen Afenyo Dehlor, Deputy Registrar Academic; Mr. Jones Addai-Marfo, Academic Registrar; and Mr. Salifu Jobe.
The purpose of the meeting was to pay a courtesy call on the Hon. Minister, Prof. Pierre Gomez and to thank him for gracing the University’s graduation ceremony in June, 2023, as well as to provide information on available opportunities for Gambians interested in pursuing their educational careers in RMU.
Issues raised by the delegation included the sensitisation of Gambians on pursuing programmes at the university and recognition of the university as a Gambian university.
The delegation highlighted that the programmes RMU offer range from Diploma to Postgraduate including academic, engineering, and vocational, scholarship opportunities or financial assistance for students and job opportunities available as a graduate most especially under the vocational programs.
Also in attendance was the Deputy Permanent Secretary Technical, Mr. Mucktarr M.Y Darboe; and the Director of Tertiary and Higher Education, Mr. Anthony G. Mendy, who both spoke at length on the significance of the RMU study programmes to The Gambia, as it includes study courses on fisheries.
Director Mendy informed the visiting delegation that MoHERST is working towards establishing a Fisheries TVET Centre and would need RMU to provide an avenue for the training of trainers and mentorship of the new TVET Centre.
In conclusion, DPS Darboe recommended that amemorandum of understanding (MoU) in the various areas of cooperation between the Ministry and RMU, will be required to expedite the realisation of the cooperation and interest.
