My Ministry Has a “rendez-vous” With 2026 Says Higher Education Minister
The Minister of Higher Education, Research Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez has underscored that his Ministry has a “rendez-vous” appointment with 2026. That it has long began working on the implementation of the recommendations set by the late Vice President, a tasked to all ministries.
It could be recalled that the late Vice President set three to five months down the line period to all the Ministries for the implementation of the recommendation of the retreat and report to the executive as a whole.
Speaking to VOD, Minister, Professor Pierre Gomez responded to questions on what steps has the Ministry taken in the implementation of the said recommendations, particularly in the education Ministry.
He confirmed to VOD that starting from year 2023, it is going to be game changer in his Ministry’s interventions, noting that they are duty bounded for the late VP’s memory, and that one of the steps the Ministry has taken is to ensure that they fulfil the mission for the interest of the Gambian people as far as quality education is key.
As part of the fulfilment of the implementation of the recommendations assigned to all Ministries by the late former Vice President, Alieu Badara Joof, at the recent cabinet retreat Prof. Gomez states that his Ministry, has kicked off with the process and have already set up the committee for the effective transformation of the Gambia College located in Brikama, West Coast region into a Teacher Training University.
He informed the VOD that three schools would be moved from the Gambia College, which means the school of agriculture will be moved to the University of the Gambia school of agriculture and environment sciences.
Minister Professor Pierre Gomez advanced that the Gambia College School of nursing and school of public health will be moved to the University of the Gambia school of medicine and health sciences, and that the college will be left with only one school which is the school of education.
He said that they have secured additional funding to build the Chancery, the faculty of law and the school of agriculture and environmental sciences, which in 18 months, would be ready in Faraba.
Minister Professor Pierre Gomez, noted that his Ministry is doing all possible measures to ensure that all recommendations are effectively implemented as a responsible Ministry to the best interest of the citizenry through the provision of concrete infrastructural development with the provision of quality education.
The Minister advanced that for the University of Applied Science and Technology (USET), the construction of the campus in Brikama behind the chancery building has started after the laying the foundation block and that in 18 months it will be ready. He added that their strategy is to do everything possible for it to be ready before end of the 18 months so that it is operational.
This he remarked is in line with the fulfilment to the implementation of the recommendations put forward by the late former Vice President who gave all ministries a timeline to implement all recommendations and report to the executive as a whole.
He said as the Minister mounting the Ministry of Education in the country, he strives to ensure all targeted goals are effectively accomplished to the best of his abilities in the interest of the whole nation as far as quality education is a priority.
