By Fatou Sillah
The Gambia is currently bonding 2,870 civil servants pursuing local and international training programs, with only two failing to return to their posts after completing their studies, the Minister of Public Service, Administrative Reforms, and Policy Coordination, Babucarr Bouy, told the National Assembly on Wednesday.
Mr. Bouy said the high compliance rate—over 99 percent—is a result of the government’s strict scholarship conditions, particularly for programs abroad.
“The Government of the Gambia is currently bonding about 2,870 civil servants pursuing various training courses both locally and overseas,” Mr. Bouy said. “Due to the stringent terms and conditions of Government scholarship awards, especially for overseas study programmes, we have registered more than a 99% rate of compliance in the execution of these bonds.”
According to the minister, the two officers who defaulted have since been dismissed by the Public Service Commission. One had been fully sponsored by the Gambian government, while the other received funding from Sweden, with the Gambian government covering his salary during the two-year program. Efforts are underway to recover the costs associated with their training.
The minister said that, since 2021, a total of 2,992 civil servants have benefited from government scholarship programs. This figure includes employees directly funded by the government, as well as those supported through government-aided institutions, who are granted study leave with salary.
Minister Bouy clarified the administration of the scholarship schemes, noting that the Personnel Management Office oversees the civil service program, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education manages scholarships for the teaching cadre, and the Ministry of Higher Education administers the Open Scholarship program, which some civil servants also utilize.
“Whereas the PMO administers the scholarship scheme for the civil service, the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education administers a separate scholarship scheme for the teaching cadre. Likewise, the Ministry of Higher Education is responsible for the Open Scholarship, from which some civil servants also benefit,” he said.