EU, Gambia Seal €20 Million Education Deal to Strengthen Secondary Schools and Teacher Training

By: Fatou Krubally

The Gambia and the European Union on Tuesday signed a €20 million financing agreement to expand access to secondary education, improve learning quality, and strengthen teacher training nationwide.

The programme, part of the EU’s Support to Improve Secondary Education for the Youth (EUIC), places particular emphasis on girls, disadvantaged students, and learners with disabilities.

The ceremony brought together senior officials from the Ministries of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) and Higher Education (MoHERST), the EU Delegation, development partners, and implementing agencies.

Speaking at the event, Higher Education Minister Professor Pierre Gomez said the investment comes at a turning point for the sector, as the government proceeds with the transformation of Gambia College into the University of Education, The Gambia (UEG). All teacher-training programmes, he said, are being upgraded to degree level as part of broader reforms.

“Teacher education is the backbone of the entire architecture. Without excellent teachers, all other investments fall flat,” Prof. Gomez stated. He expressed concern over the gender transition gap, noting that while more girls now complete secondary school, far fewer progress to higher education. “If nothing is done, we are telling the Gambian girl child that the highest she can go is high school,” he warned.

In her remarks, EU Ambassador Emmanuela Del Re said the new programme is designed to address persistent gaps in enrolment and completion, particularly in rural areas. She highlighted the EU’s support for digital learning, STEM, child protection, and health education, alongside the push to increase the number of qualified female teachers. The EU, she added, views teachers as “an army without drums but essential to nation-building.”

The Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Habibatou Drammeh, welcomed the partnership and said the funding will support efforts to widen access, strengthen school management, and ensure more inclusive learning environments for vulnerable students.

Finance Minister Seedy Keita thanked the EU for the grant and pledged strict accountability. “Signing agreements is the easy part; the results must be visible on the ground. Every euro must be validated,” he said. Keita stressed that investment in girls’ education yields the highest development returns and aligns with the government’s human capital goals.

The programme will be implemented through UNOPS, UNFPA, and Expertise France, in partnership with MoBSE and MoHERST.

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   By: Fatou Krubally The Gambia and the European Union on Tuesday signed a €20 million financing agreement to expand…
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