By Sariba Manneh
Gambian Students in Morocco recently informed this medium that they were experiencing severe hardships due to delays in receiving their stipends from the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science, and Technology of The Gambia.
In our quest to find the truth, the Permanent Secretary of the said Ministry, Yusupha Touray, was contacted by phone and he confirmed he was the PS, but he later told Foroyaa’s editor that it was a wrong number after he (the editor) sought his comment about MoHERST’s delay in paying students’ stipend.
Surprisingly, in less than an hour, a press release was issued on the Ministry’s Facebook Page, indicating: “The Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) wishes to inform the general public that records indicate that the Office of the Accountant General (Treasury) transferred the funds to the Central Bank of The Gambia on August 19, 2024 for onward transmission to the Gambian Embassy in Morocco. MoHERST is also aware that the Gambian Embassy in Morocco has been in communication with the Treasury on the same transfer.”
The Gambian Student Association in Morocco, consisting of over 120 students across various institutions, earlier told Foroyaa that they are currently enduring a severe crisis due to significant delays in the disbursement of their annual stipends provided under MoHERST.
These stipends, essential for covering basic living expenses for students, such as rent, food, water, electricity, and stationery are expected in May. However, as September begins, the ongoing delays have left students in dire situations, struggling to meet their essential needs while pursuing their education.
According to the students, the issue has become persistent and intolerable, worsening each year despite repeated efforts by GASAM to engage with MoHERST.
“GASAM has been forced to repeatedly follow up with the Ministry to demand what is rightfully owed to us-our stipends. Students should not have to constantly remind the Ministry of its obligations. Earlier this year, in February, MoHERST sent representatives to Morocco to collect student data, raising hopes for improvement.”
However, they alleged that the situation has only worsened, with students now facing heightened uncertainty and anxiety, and they are tired of enduring the careless treatment, which threatens both their well-being and academic progress.
“The financial insecurity caused by these delays is taking a toll on both our physical and mental well-being, undermining our academic performances. The uncertainty over when, or if, we will receive our stipends makes it difficult for students to be patient. Students now face months of unpaid rent, and growing tensions with landlords, while others are forced to survive on just one meal a day, posing serious long-term health risks,” they decried.
According to the students, they are not asking for a favour, but are asserting their right to the financial support allocated by the Gambia Government.
“The Ministry’s repeated failure, coupled with a lack of communication and transparency, is unacceptable. And MoHERST has yet to issue any official explanation for the delays, further exacerbating the students’ frustration and making it harder to remain calm,” they stated.
The students urgently call on MoHERST to take the necessary steps to ensure that this year’s stipend is disbursed without further delay and to establish a fixed timeline for future payments, ensuring that these delays do not recur. They say the Ministry’s treatment of Gambian students abroad, particularly in Morocco, reflects a troubling disregard for their welfare, adding that the consistent failure to respond to communications is unacceptable behaviour for a ministry tasked with serving its students.
“The burden of continually chasing the Ministry for stipends has exhausted the students, who will no longer remain silent. The future of Gambian students in Morocco is at stake, and we stand united in demanding that the Ministry fulfill its responsibilities,” they hinted.
