By Aja Beyai
Students at the University of The Gambia’s (UTG) School of Journalism and Digital Media (SJDM) are demanding immediate action to address the chronic electricity outages that continue to disrupt their academic progress. In a strongly worded statement issued today, the Journalism Students’ Association (JSA) voiced frustration over the unreliable power supply, which hampers lectures, presentations, and essential practical coursework.
The JSA accused the university’s Facilities and Finance Departments of neglecting the issue while maintaining uninterrupted power in their offices. “What’s even more disheartening is that students have protested this issue in the past, hoping meaningful change would follow. Yet years later, the same problems persist,” the statement read. “It is unacceptable that tuition-paying students are continually subjected to such deplorable conditions.”
The recurring power disruptions are not new for UTG’s journalism students, who have staged protests in previous years to highlight the problem. Despite these efforts, no lasting solutions have been implemented, leaving students struggling to meet academic requirements in a program heavily reliant on technology and consistent electricity.
The JSA has now issued a stern warning to university authorities, threatening to organize another peaceful protest if the situation remains unresolved. “We are calling on the UTG Facilities and Finance Departments, as well as the University Administration, to take immediate and permanent action to resolve this issue,” the statement declared. “If no concrete steps are taken, students will have no choice but to once again organize a peaceful protest to demand the dignity and learning conditions they rightfully deserve.”
The students emphasized that this should be the final time they endure such conditions, urging the administration to prioritize their needs. They call for swift and responsible action to restore a reliable power supply and rebuild confidence in UTG’s commitment to delivering quality education.
The university administration has yet to respond publicly to the JSA’s demands. As the threat of protest looms, students remain steadfast in their resolve to hold authorities accountable, hoping their voices will finally spur meaningful change. The outcome of this standoff could set a precedent for addressing infrastructure challenges at UTG and beyond.
