Democracy, Development and Education: Working with the Gambian Inspectorate

This paper begins by discussing the relationship between democracy and development in Africa and the Gambia in particular. It then examines the potential role of the school inspectorate in the Gambia in helping to put education for democracy on a sustainable footing. The inspectorate not only evaluate and advise teachers but also provide ongoing support and monitoring. This paper describes a project which explored whether democratic practice could be integrated into the work of inspectors and discusses evidence on both its possible impact and general issues concerning democracy and education in the Gambia.