Our Correspondent | Africa Guardian
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), in collaboration with the University of The Gambia (UTG) and the University of Oslo (UiO), has introduced Africa’s first-ever Master’s Program in Education Management Information Systems (EMIS). The historic launch, held on Wednesday, December 11, at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center (SDKJICC) in Bijilo, represents a significant milestone in education data management across the continent.
Designed by Africans for Africa, this pioneering program was unveiled during the 18th Meeting of the Committee of Directors General (CoDG) of African Union (AU) member states, hosted by the Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS). The meeting, themed “Contribution of Statistics to Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century,” focused on building resilient education systems that ensure increased access to inclusive, lifelong, quality, and relevant learning across Africa.
In his opening speech, Mr. Ousman Bah, Deputy Permanent Secretary (DPS) Administration at MoBSE, emphasized the importance of the program in equipping education sector leaders with the tools to effectively use data in decision-making. “The pilot phase is already underway in The Gambia, with the first cohort of 31 students from various MoBSE directorates and training institutions. This launch marks the beginning of a transformative journey for education systems across Africa,” he stated.
Mr. Bah also highlighted the program’s potential to tackle urgent issues, such as the global learning crisis, which has left millions of children in Africa without access to quality education. “For MoBSE, this initiative will strengthen internal capacity, break down isolated systems, and enable data-driven decision-making at all levels,” he added.
Dr. Ousainou Sarr, Acting Dean of the School of Education at the University of The Gambia, celebrated the program’s launch as a historic achievement. “We are proud to pilot this program for Africa. Now in its second semester, the program is progressing well,” he remarked.
Dr. Sarr also emphasized The Gambia’s role as a model for other countries seeking to replicate the program. “As pioneers, we are ready to share our experiences to assist other nations in implementing similar initiatives,” he said.
The Master’s Program in EMIS is set to revolutionize education systems across Africa by enhancing data management capabilities. By promoting evidence-based decision-making, the initiative aims to improve access to quality education, reduce inequality, and empower the next generation of learners.
As the program gains momentum, it marks a bold step toward building a resilient and inclusive education system that is ready for the challenges of the 21st century.
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