GAMBIA’S STUDENT LOAN SCHEME TAKES OFF — BOARD APPROVES 2026–2030 MASTER PLAN, 13 POLICIES -Barrow Administration targets finance to Tertiary Education By Raymond Enoch
The Gambia’s newly established Students Revolving Loan Scheme (SRLS) has cleared a major institutional hurdle with the approval of its five-year Strategic Plan and Loan Policy, paving the way for the phased rollout of student financing across the country.
The approval, described as a major milestone in the development of the scheme, was announced at the maiden press conference of the SRLS following the Board of Directors’ August meeting.
The Students Revolving Loan Scheme was established by the Gambian Government in 2025 with Dr Ernest Aubee as Chairman of the SRLS through the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, as part of efforts to expand access to higher and tertiary education by removing financial barriers confronting students.
The institutional framework received further momentum in November 2025 when President Adama Barrow appointed the Executive Director and Board Chairperson of the Scheme. By March 2026, the Board had appointed staff of the Secretariat to begin operationalising the SRLS Act and driving its access-expansion mandate.
The Board Chairman Dr Ernest Aubee said the newly approved SRLS Loan Policy and Strategic Plan 2026–2030 followed nationwide consultations, internal and external expert reviews and a public validation exercise conducted in June 2026.
According to the Board, minor amendments arising from the validation process and further strategic guidance were incorporated before the two key documents received final approval.
The Strategic Plan will provide the overarching direction of the Scheme over the next five years, while the Loan Policy establishes the framework governing the entire student-loan cycle—from opening and application to assessment, approval, disbursement, monitoring and repayment.
The policy, the Board said, was deliberately designed to strike a balance between widening access to education and protecting public finances, ensuring that the revolving nature of the scheme remains sustainable.
But the institutional reforms go beyond the two flagship documents.
The Board has also approved 13 additional internal policies, covering critical areas including Service Rules, Financial Management, Procurement, Resource Mobilisation, Gender, Code of Conduct, Anti-Corruption, Safeguarding and Communication Strategy.
The policies, which underwent internal and external expert scrutiny, are intended to bring the Scheme in line with national regulations and recognised best practices while establishing safeguards for public resources.
The Board said the combined policy framework would underpin transparency, accountability, equity, service excellence, partnership and long-term sustainability as the SRLS begins implementation.
Significantly, the Scheme will not immediately embark on a nationwide full-scale rollout. Instead, the Board has approved a phased strategic rollout, allowing the institution to test and strengthen its systems before expanding operations.
The approach is expected to provide the SRLS with the opportunity to build institutional capacity, strengthen loan administration and repayment mechanisms, and identify operational gaps before scaling up.
The Board called on Gambians, institutions and development partners to support the initiative, stressing that the ultimate objective is to ensure that lack of finance does not prevent qualified Gambian students from pursuing higher and tertiary education.
It also expressed appreciation to President Barrow and the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Prof. Pierre Gomez, for their support, while commending Permanent Secretary Ms. Auber, Board members, Executive Director Dr. Samba Bah and staff of the Secretariat for their contribution to the establishment of the scheme.
The Board equally acknowledged the cooperation of the chairpersons, board members, executive directors and staff of the Tripartite Funds, describing the relationship as cordial and important to the development of the new financing mechanism.
With its governing policies now approved and a phased implementation strategy in place, the Students Revolving Loan Scheme is moving from institution-building to delivery—putting The Gambia on a new path where access to tertiary education is increasingly determined by academic potential rather than the ability of a student or family to pay.
