State House, Banjul, 2nd October 2024: Permanent Secretary, Louis Moses Mendy of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education - MOBSE on Wednesday, led a presentation on his sector at a quarterly Presidential Delivery Forum, held at the State House in Banjul.

The presentation gave an update on the overall situation of Basic and Secondary education outlining developments in the infrastructure, education quality and human resource capacity of the ministry. He also detailed the contributions of donor partners in advancing access to education in remote and needy communities. Furthermore, the presentation spelt out the efforts to review and make the school curriculum relevant to advancing the country. The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education policy is inclusive and enrolled out-of-school children during the period under review.

One of the partners of MOBSE since 2017, MRC Holland, under the coordination of Mrs Henrietta Sonko, provided thousands of school furniture, over two thousand desktops, office computers and printers in addition to constructing and renovating classrooms, toilets, kitchens and teachers’ quarters across the country, motivating teachers to go for posting in rural and remote areas and making education more accessible. MRC Holland also constructed the first Regional Education College in Basse and a Science lab in Kaur.

Aside from the conventional schools, MOBSE also supported seventeen Islamic /Arabic Centres, and others benefited from support to sustain their centres through gardening and other ventures. In addition, MOBSE has enrolled over two thousand students through the Second Chance Education Policy, which had success stories, including students in higher education.

The presentation also detailed the support MOBSE received from other donor partners such as the World Bank, BADEA/ OFID, and Kuwaiti Fund, amongst other donors supporting the education Ministry.

Aside from the success registered since 2017, MOBSE also reported on its challenges with delays in the implementation of projects, disbursement and administrative processes, amongst others.

Reacting to the presentation, President Adama Barrow commended the ministry and its technical departments for a comprehensive presentation. He thanked the donors for their support, stating, “We are proud of our partnership with MRC Holland. Since 2017, they accompanied my government towards realising our development goal in the education sector.” He praised Mrs Henrietta Sonko for her diligent coordination and for always supporting the government and providing infrastructures and other facilities needed to advance education.

The Delivery Department of the Ministry of Public Service coordinates the Delivery Forum and Vice President Muhammed B.S Jallow, Minister Baboucarr Bouy and technicians from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education attended it.