Sectoral Analysis and Policy Mapping of the Education Sector in The Gambia

This report analyzes and evaluates policies, identifies challenges, highlights opportunities, and proposes recommendations for Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in The Gambia’s education sector, emphasizing their roles in enhancing human capital development. The methodology comprises literature reviews, stakeholder interviews, site visits, and data analysis, uncovering significant challenges such as funding constraints, lack of coordination among stakeholders, insufficient public-private collaboration, barriers for marginalized groups, training quality issues, and limited public awareness. To address these challenges, the report recommends a holistic enhancement of policies and practices across ECD and TVET. Key recommendations include strengthening evaluation, implementation, and leadership for improved alignment and coordination among stakeholders; promoting public-private partnerships for curriculum development and funding to support both early childhood education and vocational training in aligning with labour market needs; and fostering community engagement to raise awareness of ECD and TVET's importance. By aligning educational frameworks with market demands and incorporating early childhood development research, The Gambia can optimize its demographic potential and meet the sustainable development goals outlined in the Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (RF-NDP) 2023–2027.