Dr Alieu SK Manjang
The recent announcement by Marina International School of a substantial increase in tuition fees, widely reported by Whats On Gambia, has sparked significant public debate. Although this issue may appear less urgent than many of the socio-economic challenges confronting the majority of Gambians, it nevertheless raises important policy questions that deserve the attention of the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders in the country’s education sector.
This debate should not be reduced to the familiar argument of private versus public education, nor should it focus solely on the right of parents to choose where to educate their children. It is also not simply a question of whether private schools provide better quality education or whether enrolment in such schools reflects social status. The more fundamental issue is whether The Gambia has an effective regulatory framework to oversee private educational institutions and ensure that significant fee increases are justified, transparent, and consistent with national education standards.
Private schools undoubtedly have the right to review their fees in response to rising operational costs, investments in infrastructure, improved staff remuneration, or other legitimate financial pressures. However, such increases should ideally be accompanied by clear regulatory oversight that assures parents and the public that additional revenue will translate into measurable improvements in educational quality rather than merely higher profits.
A robust regulatory system should require private schools to demonstrate that proposed fee adjustments are linked to objective indicators such as teacher qualifications and welfare, student-teacher ratios, classroom capacity, safety standards, learning facilities, curriculum quality, and long-term institutional sustainability. Financial transparency, including evidence of how additional income will enhance teaching and learning, should also form part of this assessment.
Many countries require private schools seeking significant fee increases to submit supporting documentation to the relevant education authorities for review. Such mechanisms help protect parents from unjustified financial burdens while encouraging schools to maintain high standards of educational delivery. They also strengthen public confidence in the private education sector.
If comparable regulatory mechanisms are weak or absent in The Gambia, the Marina International School case should serve as an opportunity for policy review rather than merely public controversy. The Ministry of Education may wish to examine whether existing legislation governing the establishment, operation, and regulation of private schools remains adequate to meet the realities of a growing private education sector.
The objective should not be to discourage private investment in education. On the contrary, private schools play an important role in expanding educational opportunities and complementing the public education system. However, this role carries corresponding responsibilities. Private education must remain accountable, transparent, and committed to delivering value that justifies the financial sacrifices made by parents.
Ultimately, quality education is not measured solely by the fees that schools charge but by the standards they uphold, the learning environment they provide, the professionalism of their staff, and the outcomes they achieve for their students. The Marina International School debate therefore presents an opportunity—not only to discuss school fees—but also to strengthen the governance and regulation of private education in The Gambia for the benefit of students, parents, and the education system as a whole.