It is a fact that ‘if higher education fails’, the nation fails.
The world is not waiting for The Gambia to catch up. New modes of delivery, AI-driven learning, evolving quality standards, and global competition for talent mean our universities and technical institutions must evolve now.
The 2016 Act gave us a foundation on governance, accountability, and academic excellence. But Professor Pierre Gomez is right: expansion without reform is just congestion. As tertiary institutions multiply, the Act must be updated for consistency, relevance, and responsiveness.
This validation exercise is more than legal housekeeping. It is a test of intent.
Governance and accountability. The Act must ensure public and private institutions are not just awarding certificates, but producing graduates who can solve real problems. Boards must be competent, not political. Finances must be transparent. Students must be protected from substandard schools.
Innovation and relevance. Dr. Momodou Lamin Tarro of NAQAA is correct that technological advancement and new delivery models have outpaced the 2016 framework. The amended Act must open doors for research, technical/vocational training, and partnerships with industry.
Academic excellence means nothing if graduates cannot get jobs or create them.
Inclusion and service. MoHERST’s commitment to gender-responsive education and mobilizing resources for reform must be baked into the law, not left as slogans. Every Gambian child with talent must have a pathway, whether through university, TVET, or research. Higher education must serve The Gambia and the world, not just the privileged few.
The danger now is delay. Validation workshops are easy. Implementation is hard. Documents gathered dust while students graduate unprepared.
NAQAA must be empowered to enforce standards without fear or favor. Institutions must embrace accountability instead of resisting it. Government must fund reform, because you cannot demand world-class graduates with third-world investment.
The 2016 Act was enacted to give policy direction. The 2026 version must give results. It must align our system with national aspirations and international standards. It must produce thinkers, innovators, and builders — not just degree holders.
The Gambia cannot afford the second option. Let’s make best of this act now.