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Today: June 25, 2025
June 11, 2025
2 mins read

Gambia Launches Groundbreaking Madrassah Integration Strategy to Empower Youth

By Fatou Dahaba

President Adama Barrow launched the Gambia Madrassah Integration Strategy (GMIS) 2025-2029 on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center in Bijilo, marking a historic step toward mainstreaming Madrassah education into the nation’s development agenda. The initiative aims to ensure Madrassah graduates have equal access to tertiary education and the skills needed to excel in diverse professional fields, aligning with the government’s commitment to inclusive and equitable education.

The GMIS, developed through extensive consultations and rigorous analysis, aims to dismantle systemic barriers that have long hindered the transition of Madrassah students to post-secondary education. President Barrow, in his keynote address, expressed deep concern over challenges such as limited English proficiency, lack of access to specialized skills development, curriculum gaps, and restricted pathways to higher education. “Such barriers have inhibited the potential of a significant portion of our youth, many of whom come from economically and socially marginalized communities,” he said. “We must endeavor to break down these discriminatory barriers.”

The strategy outlines a transformative roadmap with six strategic pillars: resource mobilization and sustainability, governance and advocacy, information and communication, infrastructure development, project management, and capacity development. These pillars aim to integrate Madrassah and Majalis education into tertiary and higher education systems, with a strong emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The GMIS aims to equip graduates with the necessary qualifications and opportunities to contribute to The Gambia’s socio-economic growth by addressing these key areas.

President Barrow

President Barrow emphasized the strategy’s potential to unlock opportunities for thousands of young Gambians. “We are telling them that their dreams matter, their efforts count, and their future is our shared responsibility,” he said. He called for increased investment in infrastructure, teacher training, scholarships, and technical assistance to bring the vision to life.

 

Key stakeholders attended the launch, including representatives from the World Bank, religious leaders, and education advocates. Franklin Mutahakana, the World Bank representative, commended The Gambia for its efforts to expand opportunities for youth through its national skills development strategy. “Equipping the youth with relevant knowledge and appropriate skills is arming them for opportunities,” he said. Mutahakana highlighted the World Bank’s support for designing solutions that reflect The Gambia’s national values and local realities, noting that the GMIS lays a foundation for future collaboration with development partners.

Alagie Ousman Jah, President of AMANNA, underscored the strategy’s potential to revolutionize Madrassah education by providing opportunities comparable to those in conventional schools. “This new plan will help all Gambian students, whether in the Madrassah or conventional sector, to acquire the skills they need for a better future,” he said. Jah praised the strategy’s six pillars: school improvement grants, enhanced leadership, public awareness campaigns, improved teaching and learning, new facilities, and effective project management.

The GMIS is a bold step toward inclusivity, ensuring that Madrassah graduates are not left behind in The Gambia’s development journey. By addressing long-standing inequalities and fostering collaboration among government, development partners, and community leaders, the strategy promises to create a more equitable education system. As President Barrow noted, the launch is not the end but the beginning of a transformative process that will shape the future of Gambian youth.

The post Gambia Launches Groundbreaking Madrassah Integration Strategy to Empower Youth appeared first on The Alkamba Times.

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