By Ebrima Mbaye
In The Gambia, growing alarm has emerged over the escalating costs of higher education, compounded by the increasing difficulty graduates face in securing employment. As tuition fees and related expenses continue to climb, students and families invest heavily in degrees that many hope will lead to stable careers. However, a troubling trend has surfaced: despite their qualifications, many graduates struggle to find jobs in an already competitive market. Experts and citizens alike are raising serious concerns about the sustainability of this system, questioning whether the promise of higher education is delivering on its potential or leaving young Gambians with mounting debt and dwindling opportunities. The situation has sparked calls for urgent reforms to address the affordability of education and the employment challenges facing the nation’s youth.
A Heavy Financial Burden on Families
For many Gambian households, the cost of university is a daunting obstacle. At public institutions like the University of The Gambia (UTG), annual tuition fees range from D34,000 to D40,000, with private universities charging even steeper rates. Beyond tuition, students face additional expenses for accommodation, transportation, meals, and textbooks, pushing the total cost far beyond what many families can afford.
Lamin Drammeh, a farmer from the Central River Region, exemplifies the struggle. “I had to sell my family’s only cow just to pay my daughter’s tuition fees,” he said. “We believe education is important, but at what cost? Sometimes it feels like a gamble.” For rural families, the financial strain is compounded by the need to relocate students to urban hubs like Banjul or Brikama, where living costs are significantly higher. Many parents resort to taking out loans or depending on remittances from relatives abroad to keep their children enrolled.
Graduates Struggling in an Uncertain Job Market
Even with a degree, the promise of a secure future is fading. According to the World Bank, youth unemployment in The Gambia stands at 10.5%, but for university graduates, the situation is bleaker, with unofficial estimates suggesting rates above 40%. Sulayman Touray, a 2021 UTG graduate with a BSc in Economics, voiced a common frustration: “I spent four years studying, but I’m still unemployed. My parents invested so much in my education, but now I feel I’ve let them down.”
The country’s underdeveloped private sector offers few opportunities, while government jobs—once a reliable fallback—are increasingly scarce. As a result, many graduates find themselves overqualified yet underskilled, lacking the practical expertise employers seek in a competitive market.
Looking Beyond University: Vocational Training as an Alternative
Amid these challenges, some Gambians are turning away from traditional higher education in favor of vocational training. Programs at centers like Ndemban TVET Centre, Kanilai, Mansakonko, and the University of The Gambia School of Applied Science, Engineering, and Technology (USET, formerly GTTI) offer hands-on skills in trades such as carpentry, plumbing, IT, welding, and solar installation. These courses are shorter, more affordable, and designed to lead directly to employment—often with better outcomes than university degrees.
Kaddijatou Trawally, a vocational program graduate, has defied expectations. “People think vocational training is for those who failed in school,” she said. “But now I run my own business and earn more than some university graduates I know.” Despite such success stories, vocational training struggles against a lingering stigma, seen by many as a lesser option. Changing this mindset and boosting investment in technical education could provide a lifeline for Gambian youth facing unemployment.
Rethinking Higher Education: The Path to Reform
The issues plaguing higher education in The Gambia extend beyond affordability to include quality, relevance, and access. Experts like Lamin Dibba, a TVET instructor, argue for a shift in focus. “Our education system is too theoretical,” he said. “Universities should partner with industries to ensure students graduate with skills that employers actually need.”
Potential solutions include government-backed scholarships and student loans to lighten the financial load on families and career guidance and entrepreneurship programs to empower graduates to forge their own paths. With the job market shrinking, such reforms could bridge the gap between education and economic reality.
A Shifting Perspective
Higher education has symbolized hope and upward mobility for generations in The Gambia. Yet, as costs climb and job prospects dim, it’s increasingly evident that a university degree is not the only route to success. As families and policymakers weigh the future, the question remains: can The Gambia’s education system adapt to deliver on its promise, or will alternative paths like vocational training become the new cornerstone of opportunity?
