By Fatoumata Gassama
Paradise Foundation, a non-governmental organization conducted the first ever education dialogue at the Paradise Suits Hotel over the weekend
The dialogue brought together actors in education including the MoBSE officials, head teachers, teachers, students and a host of other actors in the education system. It was held under the theme: ‘Our Education, Our Future’
Speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of Action on Education, Miss Aisha Baldeh said that the aim of the dialogue is to discuss with government officials and stakeholders on pertinent issues affecting the education system in the country.
She said that Action on Education was formed as a result of the appalling results from the recent WASSCE results. It would be recalled that this year’s WASSCE results were termed as the poorest in the past years.
This resulted in a lot of public debate about the status of our education system. She said that Paradise Foundation was established by Gambians who want to support the health and education sector.
“The purpose of the dialogue is to gather information about the problems in our education system and form an action plan which will be submitted to the government for action,” she said.
Dr. Ismaila Ceesay, a Political Science Lecturer at the University of The Gambia who chaired the dialogue said that the education sector needs serious reforms as it is weak to address the challenges our country is faced with.
He said that the infrastructure needed to be improved and financing has been a challenge for the sector. “We need to ask ourselves this question, is the current education system fit for purpose,” he remarked.
Among the keynote speakers at the event were Adelaide Sosseh, a veteran educationist who is also the Deputy Chair at the TRRC. Mrs. Sosseh said that education should bring about impact and change. She defined education on four pillars, saying that education is based on learning to know, learning to do, learning to live together and learning to be.
She said that in The Gambia now people do not know about their country which is a catastrophe. She said that general knowledge is diminishing which is not a good sign for the New Gambia.
For his part, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Sisawo lamented on the poor performance of students in exams and attributed it to a lot of factors including inadequate funding and teachers’ lack of the required knowledge on the subject matters.
He said his ministry will endeavor to equip the cluster monitors to help teachers on pedagogical support which will help in addressing the menace.
One of the student participants also said that they are taught only how to pass exams and not to apply which is not meaningful education.
“We don’t think on our own and act on our own,” he stressed. While responding to him, a teacher at Latrikunda, Demba Bah said that as teachers, they give what they have not what they don’t have.
He said teachers should be motivated in order for them to be able to help shape the education system.