By Amadou Manjang
The Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology of The Gambia (MoHERST) is developing a National Strategy for the Increased Participation of Female Gender in Tertiary and Higher Education.
The National Strategy seeks to provide equal opportunity for female gender in post-secondary education where their number is very low.
Minister of MoHERST Prof Pierre Gomez said there are a lot of girls in primary and secondary school, but there are fewer girls in tertiary and higher education level.
“There are more girls completing secondary school than boys, but there are more boys in higher education than girls.
‘Where are our girls?’ he asked.
He said that if such a trend continues, the message ‘we are sending to girls is that the highest level they can go in education is grade 12, after that they should get married’.
‘The policy is intended to fix this,’ he said.
He further said the strategic plan and policy aim to put women at the centre of the development by giving them equal opportunities and access to education because there cannot be any sustainable development if women who are majority in the country are kept in peripheries of the society and there is no strategy to bring them on board.
Therefore, he said the objectives of the strategic plan and policy aim to give voice to women when it comes to development; adding that the gender gap and disparity in politics, society and other institutions cannot be addressed without addressing it at the higher education level.
He added that the country needs to ensure women move to higher education so that they handle senior management positions in educational institutions as well as in government institutions and parliament.
‘This is development for us. This will give voice to the government, party politics and education institutions like the university,’ he said.
Moreover, he said the strategic plan and policy will also encourage females to study sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics which is currently low among female students in the country
The Permanent Secretary of Moherst Dr. YusuphaTouray said the female gender representation at tertiary and higher education is 30 to 40 percent. Therefore, the situation requires reviews to improve it.
He said there cannot be meaningful development when women are not fairly represented in higher education institutions to build their capacities
“Womenshould not be left behind. They should be given full opportunity as far as higher education is concerned,’ he said.
The consultant for strategic policy development, Mrs. Emily Sarr said the policy is necessary to give equal opportunity to females to participate in the development of the country.
She added that the plan is in line with international protocol as well as national protocol that seek to promote and empower females in the Gambia.
