By Abdou Mbye
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) has announced the promotion of 3,862 teachers to various positions within the teaching cadre. This significant move was disclosed during a press conference held on Friday, 13 September 2024, at the ministry in Banjul.
The Permanent Secretary at MoBSE, Mr. Louis Moses Mendy, explained that the delay in the teachers’ postings was due to the ministry’s efforts to ensure appropriate placement according to the revised Scheme of Service (SoS).
Speaking at the event, PS Mendy emphasised the importance of aligning teachers’ roles with their qualifications and the revised framework. “We wanted to ensure that teachers are properly placed before sending them to the right schools,” Mendy said. The revision of the teaching cadre, which now extends from Class A to Class E schools, received approval from the government through the Ministry of Public Service, Administrative Reforms, Policy Coordination and Delivery.
The PS Mendy said the new classification creates additional administrative positions within schools, making it necessary for many teachers to transfer to institutions that match their new status. He noted that while not every teacher can be a head of school, the restructuring ensures that all teachers are appropriately placed, both in terms of position and salary.
The Director of Human Resources at MoBSE, Mr. Ebrima Saidy, observed that the promotion will not only enhance teacher retention but also serves as a motivation for teachers’ continuous commitment to service. He stressed that teacher welfare is a top priority for the ministry, and that the revised Scheme of Service reflects this commitment, as teachers are awarded for their dedication.
Musa Bah, Principal Education Officer at the HR Directorate, provided a detailed breakdown of the promotion statistics. He revealed that prior to the re-categorisation of schools many heads were not aligned with their corresponding positions and earnings. However, with the re-categorisation, 797 schools have been classified, which will result in all heads and principals becoming status holders, leading to both promotions and salary increases.
Of the 3,862 teachers promoted, 1,489 are female, and 2,373 are male. Bah noted that 2,496 teachers had never been promoted before this announcement. Additionally, 108 new schools have been created as part of the re-categorisation and reclassification efforts.
Deputy General Secretary of the Gambia Teachers Union (GTU), Essa Sowe, expressed gratitude to MoBSE for responding to the union’s long-standing demand for the re-categorisation of schools. Sowe urged teachers to honour their new postings and cautioned against refusing transfers, which could be considered professional misconduct. He also encouraged teachers to address any challenges through the proper channels, including the regional response teams at the Regional Education Directorates.
Sowe acknowledged that while there may be some minor oversights or omissions in the promotion process, mechanisms are in place to address these issues. Teachers who feel they have been overlooked are encouraged to submit their details to their Regional Education Directorates for further review.
