The platform is a ground-breaking initiative designed to revolutionise education.
Prof. Pierre Gomez, the minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, said the government’s commitment to making quality higher education increasingly accessible and affordable to all Gambians is unwavering. “It’s a commitment rooted in the belief that education is the cornerstone of progress and development,” he said.
Higher Education Minister continued that in embracing this digital era, they affirmed their belief that innovation is the catalyst of progress and they reflect their determination to adapt to the evolving needs of education, especially during the weight of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister Gomez said the platform is not just about delivering content, but delivering hope, opportunity, and a brighter future for all Gambians.
The platform was supported by the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) through its participation programme for the 2020-2023 Biennium under the project titled: ‘STEM Education Management Platform: Improving Performance and Management of STEM Educational Service Delivery in The Gambia’.
The platform could promote the effective dissemination of scientific resources for the greater benefit of society, said Maimuna Sidibeh, acting secretary general of UNESCO-NATCOM.
She added that the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the importance of science and technology as well as the challenges of unequal access to education and learning.
“At the broader level, UNESCO promotes open access to learning and sharing of scientific information and one of its initiatives in this direction is the global open access portal of scientific scholarly knowledge which is a repository of relevant scientific knowledge and its freely accessible,” she added.
Mucktarr Darboe, deputy permanent secretary, Technical, MoHERST, said the development of the platform represents a combination of diligent efforts, collaborative spirit, and unwavering benefits. “The platform caters for diverse learning styles through flexible modalities and supports quality with real-time data analysis and accreditation,” he added.
MoHERST also revealed that the platform is a game-changer with objectives including addressing the COVID-19 impact, improving data-driven decision-making, promoting equity, and boosting education access.
