UTG Students Protest Over Worsening Conditions at Faraba Campus, Threaten to Suspend Lectures

By Seedy Jobe

The University of The Gambia Students’ Union (UTGSU) on Monday staged a protest at the university’s Peace Building campus in Kanifing, demanding urgent government intervention over deteriorating welfare conditions at the Faraba Banta campus and threatening to suspend lectures if its demands are not met.

The protest, organized by the union’s 24th Executive Council, follows mounting frustration among students over transportation difficulties, the closure of the campus cafeteria, inadequate access to clean drinking water, and persistent internet connectivity problems.

In a petition addressed to the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, the union, representing more than 12,000 students, said the challenges that accompanied the university’s relocation to Faraba Banta had resurfaced in different forms, severely disrupting academic activities just six weeks into the semester.

Transportation remains one of the most pressing concerns, with the union reporting that students routinely miss lectures, examinations, and other academic commitments because of unreliable bus services.

According to the petition, a memorandum of understanding between the ministry and the Gambia Transport Service Company (GTSC) provides for the deployment of 20 buses to transport students. However, the union alleged that the company has consistently failed to honor the agreement.

It said only 12 buses are deployed for the 6:30 a.m. departure, while four additional buses are introduced at 9:30 a.m., often arriving late at designated pickup points. The union also accused some drivers of subjecting students to degrading treatment.

Citing an incident on Friday, October 23, the union said nearly all students waiting at the Coastal Road and Sukuta Traffic Light pickup points were forced to return home after buses failed to arrive, causing them to miss classes and assessments.

It also recalled an incident during the first week of September when students were stranded at the Faraba campus until approximately 9 p.m.

Beyond transportation, the union raised concerns about what it described as a worsening food crisis, saying the continued closure of the campus cafeteria has left students without reliable access to meals throughout the academic day.

The petition further highlighted inadequate drinking water supplies and poor internet connectivity, which the union said have undermined students’ ability to conduct research and complete coursework.

The union maintained that repeated efforts to resolve the problems through dialogue had yielded little progress.

It cited a September 25 meeting convened by the ministry during which assurances were given but said conditions subsequently deteriorated. The cafeteria crisis was also raised at the university’s Governing Council meeting on October 6, without any response, according to the union.

A further complaint submitted to the ministry on October 15 concerning transportation failed to produce improvements, while an October 22 engagement with the Directorate of Student Affairs similarly ended without meaningful progress, the petition stated.

In its petition, the union issued a series of demands with strict deadlines, calling on the ministry to ensure the full deployment of all 20 buses by Tuesday, October 27. It also demanded that no buses be withdrawn to the depot before the scheduled 2:30 p.m. departure from Faraba.

The union further called for adequate supplies of clean drinking water and the restoration of cafeteria services under qualified food vendors by Tuesday.

It gave the authorities until Friday, October 30, to establish reliable internet connectivity across the campus.

Additionally, the union demanded a written response by close of business Tuesday detailing measures taken to address the crisis, explaining why the transportation agreement has not been fully implemented and providing a firm timetable for installing internet services.

The student leadership warned that failure to meet the deadlines would trigger further demonstrations and a suspension of lectures across the university.

It said responsibility for any resulting disruption to the academic calendar would rest with the authorities, whom it accused of failing to address problems within their power to resolve.

The union also demanded protection for students who missed examinations or assessments because of transportation difficulties, insisting that they should not face academic penalties for circumstances beyond their control.

It alleged that some lecturers had continued administering tests despite knowing that affected students were unable to reach campus, raising concerns about fairness in academic assessments.

The protest marks an escalation in the union’s efforts to secure improvements at Faraba Banta, placing renewed pressure on the Ministry of Higher Education and university authorities to address longstanding concerns over student welfare and access to essential campus services.