MoHERST Validates First National Gender Strategy to Enhance Women’s Inclusion in Higher Education

Prof. Pierre Gomez, Minister of Higher Education

By Ramatoulie Jawo 

The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) has officially validated its first-ever National Gender Strategy, designed to boost female enrolment, participation, and representation in tertiary and higher education, as well as in leadership positions.

In a press statement, the Ministry revealed that the validation event, presided over by Professor Pierre Gomez, Minister of Higher Education, convened key stakeholders from the higher education sector. The gathering focused on sharing findings from a comprehensive survey conducted across tertiary and higher education institutions in late 2024, which informed the development of the strategy.

The statement further noted that the initiative is part of the World Bank’s Resilience, Inclusive, Skills and Equity (RISE) Project. The validation exercise aimed to provide stakeholders an opportunity to offer insights and confirm the accuracy of the survey findings.Delivering his keynote address, Minister Gomez described the validation as a historic achievement for The Gambia’s tertiary and higher education sector. He emphasized that this marks the first time since the Ministry’s inception that a dedicated strategy has been developed to enhance women’s access to higher education and decision-making positions.
“In his keynote statement, the Honourable Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Professor Pierre Gomez, described the occasion as a historic achievement for the tertiary and higher education sector Honourable Gomez noted that this is the first time, since the inception of the Ministry, that such a strategy is developed as an instrument to enhance access for women in tertiary and higher education, and decision-making,” they wrote. 

The statement highlighted that Minister Gomez acknowledged The Gambia’s ongoing struggle to meet the tertiary and higher education needs of its population. He revealed that 49% of Gambian women are still less likely to access tertiary and higher education compared to their male counterparts. The Minister described this as a significant challenge for both the government and the higher education sector.

“Therefore, increasing female participation in institutions of higher learning, particularly in male-dominated fields such as science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), has been and remains a top priority for the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST). This objective is clearly outlined as a strategic priority in the Ministry’s Institutional Strategy,” Minister Gomez stated.

He further emphasized that the validation of this strategy marks a turning point for women’s access to opportunities in tertiary and higher education. The Minister expressed optimism that, upon implementation, the strategies would significantly improve female participation, especially in STEM fields.

The statement also noted contributions from other key speakers, including the Deputy Permanent Secretary for Administration and Finance at the Ministry, Ndey Fatou Trawally. Trawally underscored that in The Gambia, as in many African countries, women continue to face substantial barriers to education. These challenges include limited financial resources, lack of motivation and support from family, schools, and society, restrictive societal norms, early marriage, and a scarcity of female role models.

Trawally expressed the Ministry’s strong hope that the strategies being developed by the consultant would serve as a comprehensive policy guide to improve the situation of women in the tertiary and higher education sector.

Additionally, the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Technical), Mr. Mucktarr M. Y. Darboe remarked that the development of the strategy had been a collaborative process. It involved key stakeholders such as government ministries, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and development partners.

Concluding the session, the consultant, Mrs. Emily Sarr, presented the findings of a survey that examined the barriers and challenges affecting female participation in tertiary and higher education, as well as in leadership roles. She also outlined strategic recommendations designed to overcome these obstacles and foster greater female inclusion in higher education.