By: Binta Jaiteh
The Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Prof. Pierre Gomez, Tuesday officially inaugurated Student Revolving Loan Scheme (SRLS).
This is an initiative which aims at strengthening long-term national investment in education and expanding access to tertiary and higher education.
The launch also marked the validation of the SRLS Strategic Plan (2026-2030), which outlined the institution’s priorities for operational development, governance, sustainability and long-term implementation over the next five years.
Speaking at the event, Prof. Gomez described the initiative as a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to make higher education accessible to all Gambians in line with the ministry’s policies and the Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (2023-2027).
He expressed confidence that the Strategic Plan and the accompanying loan policy would increase enrolment in tertiary and higher education institutions by enabling more young people, both men and women, to acquire the skills, knowledge and competencies needed for national development and global engagement.
According to the minister, the scheme will be available to students enrolled in tertiary and higher education institutions accredited by the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA).
Prof. Gomez said the initiative was established to address financial barriers that have prevented many students from accessing scholarships and paying tuition fees.
He noted that although the ministry has been providing scholarships to deserving Gambian students since its establishment in 2007, available support has not been sufficient to meet the needs of all eligible students.
The minister said many students from disadvantaged backgrounds have been forced to suspend or abandon their studies because they were unable to pay tuition fees, while parents and guardians often resorted to high-interest loans to finance their children’s education.
“With the advent of this scheme, students can directly apply for a loan. The government, through my ministry, is demonstrating that access to higher and tertiary education should not depend on one’s social or economic background,” he said.
Prof. Gomez urged stakeholders to actively participate in reviewing and validating the strategic and policy documents to ensure national ownership and effective implementation of the scheme.
The Chairperson of the SRLS Board, Ernest Aubee, said the institution had recruited core staff to operationalize the vision of the Ministry of Higher Education under the leadership of Prof. Gomez.
He said the Strategic Plan 2026-2030 set out the scheme’s vision, strategic objectives and performance indicators to ensure accountability and effective delivery.
Aubee noted that the plan benefited from consultations with stakeholders through direct engagements, expert reviews and surveys conducted by the scheme.
He added that while the SRLS had drawn lessons from student loan models across the sub-region and beyond, the initiative was designed to reflect The Gambia’s specific socio-economic realities.
The Student Revolving Loan Scheme is expected to provide sustainable financing opportunities for students pursuing higher education and contribute to the country’s human capital development agenda.
Officials said the scheme remained committed to building a credible, sustainable and nationally responsive student financing system capable of serving both current and future generations of Gambian students.