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GAMBIA

BASIC DATA
Official Country Name:	Republic of the Gambia
Region:	Africa
Population:	1,367,124
Language(s):	English, Mandinka, Wolof, Fula
Literacy Rate:	38.6%

HISTORY & BACKGROUND

Gambia, officially Republique of the Gambia, is an independent republic of western Africa and one of the smallest independent countries on the continent. It achieved its independence from Great Britain in 1965. Geographically, it is a narrow enclave that extends about 15 to 30 miles along the Gambia River and is almost completely surrounded by Senegal, a fact that forced a short-lived merger between the two nations between 1982 and 1989. There was a military coup in 1994, but a new constitution created in 1996 followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997 helped the nation to return nominally to civilian rule. The Gambia accepted a seat on the UN Security Council during 1998 to 1999, effectively ending their period of isolation.

The population (based on a July 2000 estimate) is 1,367,124 people and includes diverse ethnic groups that are 99 percent African heritage and 1 percent non-African. The most populous group is the Mandinka (42 percent), followed by the Fula (18 percent), Wolof (16 percent), Jola (10 percent), and others (14 percent). The official language is English, but each of the diverse ethnic groups also speaks their own language. The most popular are Mandinka, Wolof, and Fulu.

EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM—OVERVIEW

Gambia has a state educational structure inherited from its colonial power and continues to use English as the language of instruction. Schooling is not compulsory and the system remains under-developed as noted by the lack of adequate funding from the government and the insufficient number of schools to accommodate all of the potential students. Children under the age of 15 account for 45 percent of the country's population. Existing schools may actually operate as two distinct schools with one group of students attending a morning session and another attending an afternoon session. Some classes, even with the split shift, may still have an enrollment of 100 students or more with 3 or 4 students sharing a single desk, book, or other supplies. A lack of teachers and low salaries further demoralize educators, causing a downward cycle in education. This downward cycle is noted in the nation's low literacy rate (38.6 percent).

Educational accessibility to school also varies greatly. Although schooling is theoretically available to all children at the primary level, secondary schooling is competitive and available only to those who pass their examinations. However, failure to attend secondary school is due less to poor performance on the exam and more as a result of low income. Children from poorer families cannot afford school fees, books, or uniforms and thus are prevented from furthering their education. Children may also be needed to contribute to the family income by working in the fields or seeking other forms of employment. This further prevents them from progressing to the next level.

There are instances at the grass roots level where communities are striving to become more involved in the problem of education. For example, villagers from Kanuma built a bamboo classroom to accommodate the children of that village. Still, the basic structure of the educational system includes a Primary School, Secondary Middle School, Higher Secondary School, and Sixth Form.

PREPRIMARY & PRIMARY EDUCATION

Children attend primary school for 6 years from the ages of 7 through 13. Although schooling is not compulsory, almost all of the children living around Banjul (capital) attend school; only a third of those in other parts of the country go to school. At the completion of six years, students are awarded the Primary School Leaving Certificate.

SECONDARY EDUCATION

Secondary education is divided into Middle School (three years), Higher Secondary, and Sixth Form (2years); students attend from the ages of 13 through 21. At the successful completion of each level, a certificate is awarded. If students finish the sixth form and have completed all 13 to 14 previous years of education, they may earn the West African Examinations Council A Level Certificate.

HIGHER EDUCATION

Gambia has no university level institution, so stu dents who wish to pursue a university degree must go abroad to study. Gambia College, located in the capital of Banjul, is the only institution of higher learning in the nation and is divided into schools of agriculture, education, nursing, and public health.

Primary school teachers are trained at the Gambia College School of Education for two years and earn a primary teachers' certificate. There is also a three-year, in-service course available to unqualified teachers to earn a basic teachers' certificate. Admission to the program is based on the middle school leaving certificate.

Secondary school teachers are also trained at Gambia College for two years and earn the higher teachers' certificate. Admission is based on earning the West African Examinations Council school certificate.

Studies at the higher technical and vocational institutes lead to certificates, diplomas, or examinations of the City and Guilds of London Institute and the Royal Society of Arts.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The World Factbook 2000. Directorate of Intelligence, 1 January 2000. Available from http://www.cia.gov/.

"Education System in Gambia." newafrica.com, 2000. Available from http://www.newafrica.com/education/.

International Association of Universities (IAU). "Educational System-Gambia," 1996. Available from http://ftp.unesco.org/.

—Jean Boris Wynn