By Abdou Mbye
The newly appointed Minister of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), Honourable Haddyjatou Sey, on Wednesday, 27 March, paid a courtesy call to education directorates in Region One, Kanifing.
The purpose of the visit was to familiarize herself with the mandates and programs of the directorates where she had fruitful engagements with various directors and staff, including the Directorate of Performance, Measurement, and Evaluation (PMED), the Curriculum Research, Evaluation, and Development Directorate (CREDD), the Science and Technology Education Directorate (STED), the Directorate of In-Service Training and Life-Long Learning (DITaLL), and the Early Childhood and Inclusive Education Directorate (ECIED).
Minister Sey expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve her country, particularly in the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE).
She highlighted the pivotal role of basic education in driving economic and social development, emphasising the Ministry’s responsibility in preparing the future workforce.
“I am extremely pleased to be appointed by the president and it’s an honour to serve my country and share my experience, especially with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education. Research evidence has shown that investing in basic education contributes significantly to the economic and social development of any country. This Ministry is the foundation to prepare our children for the future workforce,” Hon. Seyposited.
She recognized the significant role of the directorates in Region One, which hosts MoBSE’s key national programs, including curriculum development and gender equity initiatives.
Meanwhile, Hon. Sey reiterated her commitment to digitizing the education curriculum and commended The Gambia’s efforts in improving enrollment rates, particularly for girls, underscoring the importance of gender equity and inclusion in education.
Acknowledging the challenges in education, she stressed the need for collaborative efforts within the Ministry to address institutional gaps and boost students’ performance.
Also, she emphasized the significance of foundational learning, including the use of national languages, and highlighted early childhood education as a pathway to academic success.
Minister Sey outlined her focus on enhancing performance management within the Ministry, including setting clear targets, monitoring processes, and providing support for staff to meet the education sector policy goals.
She asserted “I intend to embark on a regional visit to have rigorous engagement with regional directors and to familiarize with what is happening on the ground, and engaged the Gambia Teacher’s Union, and all MoBSE stakeholders that are supporting the education sector.”