Gambia unveils National Madrassah Board in landmark education reform

The Gambia has taken a historic step toward transforming Islamic education with the official launch of the National Madrassah Board (NMB), a reform long anticipated by education stakeholders, Madrassah leaders, and communities across the country. The inauguration, held on Wednesday, November 6, at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) Conference Hall, marks what government officials describe as a “new era” for the nation’s religious and academic landscape.

The NMB forms a central pillar of the Gambia Madrassah Integration Strategy (GMIS) 2025–2029, a national plan designed to modernise Madrassah education and bring it into full alignment with the country’s broader educational system. Under the strategy, the Board is tasked with harmonising curriculum standards, improving teacher training, providing accreditation frameworks, and overseeing the Model Madrassah Pilot Project, which will modernise 12 schools across the country.

Minister of Higher Education, Professor Pierre Gomez, who presided over the ceremony, described the inauguration as “not only an administrative event, but a transformational step in redefining the future of education in The Gambia.” He emphasised that the Board’s mandate centres on “coordination, harmonisation and accountability,” noting that its formation is a national responsibility toward thousands of children enrolled in Madrassahs nationwide.

Prof. Gomez also formally introduced the Board members and outlined key priorities for their first year of operation. These include curriculum alignment with national standards, the establishment of a structured accreditation system, community sensitisation programs, and advancing the Rental Estate Waqf financing model aimed at supporting sustainable development in the Madrassah sector.

In her welcoming remarks, Permanent Secretary Ambassador Jainaba Jagne described the launch as a turning point in the evolution of Gambian education. With the establishment of the Board, she said, “challenges will no longer define the future of Madrassah students,” affirming the Ministry’s commitment to building equitable learning pathways for all.

The ceremony concluded with the official declaration of the Board’s inauguration. “With great honour and responsibility, I hereby declare the National Madrassah Board of The Gambia duly inaugurated. May Allah guide your work and bless this nation,” Minister Gomez proclaimed.

The launch of the NMB signals The Gambia’s strengthened commitment to ensuring that Madrassah learners are fully supported, recognised, and integrated into the country’s modern education architecture. With GMIS 2025–2029 now underway, officials say the reform will open clearer opportunities for graduates to transition into TVET, tertiary, and higher education—ensuring that no student is left behind.