Development Group Urges Gambia to Reconsider New Language Policy in Schools

By Seedy Jobe

The chairman of the National Development Association, Prof. Yerro Mballow, has called on the government of The Gambia to reconsider a newly approved language policy for schools, warning that its scope may be too ambitious to implement effectively.

In an open letter dated Saturday, Prof. Mballow urged the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to review the Language in Education Policy (LEP) 2025–2030, which was recently endorsed by the Cabinet. The policy aims to expand the use of national languages in classrooms as part of a broader effort to make education more inclusive and responsive to students’ needs.

But Prof. Mballow said the inclusion of seven national languages as mediums of instruction could create significant challenges for schools.

“While we appreciate the intent to promote local languages, we fear this approach may be overly ambitious and impractical,” he wrote in a statement shared publicly. “With seven languages, implementation could be chaotic, especially in diverse classrooms.”

He questioned how schools would manage the logistical demands of the policy, including the training of teachers, allocation of learning materials, and maintenance of consistent standards across multiple languages.

The National Development Association instead proposed a narrower approach, recommending that the government prioritize one or two languages that could more feasibly support national cohesion and effective instruction.

In making its case, the group pointed to regional examples, citing Senegal and Tanzania as countries that have adopted more unified language strategies in their education systems despite having diverse linguistic populations.

Prof. Mballow urged policymakers to reconsider the current framework and adopt a more focused plan.

“We urge MoBSE to reconsider and prioritize a more focused approach, selecting one or two languages that can realistically drive national unity and effective learning,” he said, adding, “Let us make this policy work for the country’s future.”