President Adama Barrow has laid a foundation stone for the First Teacher Training College in rural Gambia, the Gambia College School of Education Campus in Basse, Upper River Region.
The project, which is in partnership between the Gambia Government and the MRC Holland Foundation, once completed will mark the first-ever higher educational institution in URR.
“When completed and operational, the project will hopefully, contribute immensely towards addressing the challenges linked to access, quality and equity. For as far as too man interested candidates and teacher trainees have had to travel to the Greater Banjul Area for training,” said Barrow.
“It must be emphasized that, although, the same standards should be observed in all aspects in this extension campus as the main college grounds in Brikama. In no way should it be sub-standard. Experienced lecturers at the Brikama Campus and additional competent staff should be deployed to serve there.”
The teacher- training institute is expected to ease Rural-Urban drift in search of better education opportunities, and increase access to quality education.
“Teacher education and training, teacher quality and performance and teacher supply and management form the basis for a sound education system,” added Barrow.
Author: Kebba Ansu Manneh
