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Gambia: Science Academy in Kanilai

Good planning starts from what exists and is characterised by short term, medium term and long term strategies to facilitate the smooth, continuous and sustainable development of a project.

Currently, the University of The Gambia is without a campus or proper science facilities. The students doing physics and other science subjects are terribly disadvantaged because of the inadequacy of books and laboratory facilities. What the university needs currently should be identified and provided if the government is committed to the spirit and principle of promoting university education. At the moment, what is available is a college.

What the university needs are accomplished lecturers in the sciences, an update of learning materials and well equipped laboratories to provide education up to PhD level.

In subsequent issues Foroyaa will focus on science education in the University of The Gambia. We will provide the facts to the readers to evaluate the situation.

We have constantly lamented the negligence of the leaders of the first republic in building a university infrastructure. We have equally drawn the attention of the Gambian public to our honest opinion that this present government is not following the right direction in promoting university education.

We have argued vehemently that the Independence Stadium complex, with hostel and adjoining rooms, is a fitting place to commence a university campus. Can you imagine what could have happened if the funds proposed for the academy or to build a university at Faraba were to be utilised to modify the structures at the stadium to build science laboratories with state of earth equipment and provide conducive environment for the lecturer to teach and reside? This could have been the main campus which will proceed to develop up to the point of offering PhD courses. Colleges specializing in agriculture and other disciplines could have been established elsewhere when the situation permits.

The basic problem of the government's development strategy is lack of coherence and a holistic approach in planning. Take the road network as an example. The first strategic objective of any government should have been to build a trunk road from Barra up to the Fatoto river crossing, where a bridge could have easily been constructed to complete the connection between the North and South Bank. Secondly, a South Bank trunk should have been built from Kartong to Koina as another phase in linking all parts of the country. Any government with a coherent road policy would have tried to achieve this within a five year period. This government however showcases development in disjointed ways. Its starts something and goes to something else, before it completes the whole journey cracks would have started where it completed and the whole cycle of deterioration starts off again.

Our fear is that vital time and resources will be wasted before a university is established. Then cost would deprive the poor from being enrolled. This is what must be avoided. Taiwan is helping but a change of government or change of policy is always possible. The government should use all opportunity to promote sustainable ventures.