By Yankuba Jallow
The usually calm atmosphere of the Mansakunda civic engagement program turned somehow emotional on Friday when a young man challenged government officials on the fate of Gambia College graduates who completed their teacher training in 2024 but remain at home, unemployed.
“The other thing is the college students who graduated in 2024 are still concerned where lies their feet. Will they be employed or will they not be employed?” the young man asked, his voice echoing the frustrations of dozens of trained teachers still awaiting government posting.
“From Gambia College?” Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, the Minister of Information, interjected, chairing the question-and-answer session.
“Yes, from Gambia College, class of 2024,” the boy replied firmly.
For decades, graduates from Gambia College were absorbed directly into the teaching service without delay. But officials at Friday’s gathering acknowledged a shift in policy, saying recruitment will now be based on needs rather than automatic placement. The government insists that this approach is driven by financial realities and the need to balance teacher distribution across the country.
Following the response by the minister, teachers sitting close to the reporter all became silent and some were heard saying “now they know their fate.” Two approached the reporter saying “our brothers were trained to become teachers and they want to serve the country. If the government does not employee them, who will employ them.” A few other teachers he discussed with also hold the same sentiment.
The statement has left many recent graduates unsettled, particularly those from the 2023 and 2024 cohorts, who say they have been waiting at home for months without appointments. Some have alleged that since 2023 the government has not appointed new teachers at all, a claim Foroyaa could not independently verify.
The uncertainty has stirred growing unease among aspiring teachers, who argue that their years of training are being wasted while schools across rural Gambia continue to grapple with shortages of qualified staff.
Education officials at the Mansakunda forum did not provide a clear timeline for when or how the graduates would be absorbed into the system. The young man’s question echoing the concerns of his peers who feel uncertainty in their professional futures.
Foroyaa will do a comprehensive report on this policy shift highlighting the position of the government, expert comments and the viewpoints of the teachers as well as the union representing them.
