By Aja Beyai
Gambia College School of Nursing and Midwifery is facing controversy after issuing warning letters to at least six Niqabi students who have refused to comply with a newly enforced ban on face masks. The college’s administration has stated that students wearing masks as an alternative to the niqab will face suspension unless their parents meet with college officials.
The conflict originated in February 2024 following an incident involving Matron Fatou Sonko at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) in Banjul, which attempted to enforce the ban on one of the University students. A student was asked to remove her mask in a public setting, and the situation escalated, leading to a campus-wide policy that prohibits masks altogether.
The enforcement of this policy has reportedly intensified, with the Head of the Midwifery Department, Mrs. Kumba Khan, seizing masks and issuing warning letters to students.
One affected student told the Alkamba Times, “We are being punished for practicing our faith.”
The Islamic Students Association (ISA) has expressed concern over the policy, stating that it disproportionately targets Niqabi students.
Another student who wished to remain unnamed noted, “This was not part of the dress code we were given.”
Efforts to reach college administrators, including Mrs. Bah and Principal Mr. Abubacarr Jallow, for clarification on the policy have been unsuccessful.
The enforcement of the mask ban at Gambia College raises essential considerations regarding its alignment with Section 25(1)(c) and Section 33(1) of The Gambian Constitution. These sections are designed to protect individuals’ rights to freedom of expression and the practice of their religion.
As stakeholders examine this policy’s implications, discussions are centered on balancing institutional regulations with the rights guaranteed to students under the Constitution.
