By Binta Jaiteh
The Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MOHERST), Professor Pierre Gomez, has cautioned Gambian embassies abroad against seeking assistance from the ministry on behalf of students who are not officially sponsored.
The warning follows a statement from the Association of Gambian Students in China, which claimed that several government-sponsored students in the country faced possible termination of studies and deportation due to unpaid tuition fees.
Professor Gomez stressed that the ministry would not intervene in cases involving students who were not formally enrolled through government channels. He urged embassies to refrain from corresponding with MOHERST on behalf of such students.
“These students are behaving as if the ministry is traumatizing them, when in fact MOHERST did not send them to China,” the minister said.
He added that the government had mobilized more than five million dalasis to cover tuition fees for 14 students. Still, he expressed disappointment that some beneficiaries publicized the support, which he said tarnished the ministry’s reputation.
“We do not deal with cash; we deal with documents. We write to the Ministry of Finance for funding, and sometimes they do not even release what we request,” he explained.
The minister noted that the affected students travelled abroad without following the official procedures, assuming they could fund their studies independently, only to encounter financial difficulties later.
He further said the ministry had informed the Gambian Embassy in Beijing that payments would be made in December, but delays occurred after the Ministry of Finance failed to release funds.
“For the 2025–2026 academic year no fees have been paid yet for international students because funds are not available. Gambian students are currently studying in Nigeria, India, Morocco, and China. Government-sponsored students will continue to receive support. Similar situations will not be tolerated for unofficial students,” he vowed.
Professor Gomez also questioned resource prioritization, noting that many Gambians struggle to afford medical care and that the same funds could sponsor numerous students locally. “This should not happen again,” he said.
