President Adama Barrow introduced The Gambia’s Madrassah Integration Strategy, a novel initiative designed to align religious education with the formal national educational system.
This strategy, developed by the Ministry of Higher Education in collaboration with the World Bank, aims to update over 400 Madrassah schools that focus on Quranic memorization and Islamic studies.
The initiative addresses the challenges faced by Madrassah graduates, including limited access to higher education and vocational training.
The strategy advocates bilingual education and aspires to provide equal opportunities for Madrassah students, particularly in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and STEM disciplines.
Barrow underscored the government’s commitment to inclusive education and acknowledged the historical significance of Madrassahs in the educational sphere.
Proposed reforms include adjusting the curriculum, implementing English bridging programs, and forming partnerships to improve resources and academic standards.
Alhagie Ousman Jah emphasized crucial components for effective integration, such as enhancing governance and expanding infrastructure to affirm the role of Madrassah education within the national framework.
