By: Lamin B Darboe
At least 42 students were on Friday graduated at Essau Community Nursery School’s 21st graduation and prize giving ceremony in Lower Niumi District of North Bank Region.
Giving his school annual report before the parents, the Headmaster of Essau Community Nursery, Malick Manneh informed the audience that Essau Nursery School was founded in 1994, stating that the total enrolment of his school stands at 270 students.
“Out of these number, 129 are boys and 141 are girls and we have 9 teachers including himself and the school have watchman, two caretakers and tow cook,” Manneh informed parents.
According to headmaster Manneh, his institution was registered and accredited by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) Adding that the school currently has 4 qualified teachers and 4 are pursuing training at Gambia College.
He said his school housed 2 Nursery (1) classroom blocks, 2 Nursery (2) classroom blocks, 1 Nursery (3) classroom blocks and 1 Nursery (4) classroom blocks respectively.
Manneh informed parents that his institution enrolled teachers at Gambia College to further their professional career in the areas of Early Childhood Development.
Headmaster Manneh highlighted some of the development projects his institution undertook namely; feeding program for students, community contribution towards D600 for staff motivation, sponsor from Father Tony Pa Modou Solar Hub through Luke Macdonald for paying water bills, 3 Orphan’s school fees and building of 5 new toilets.
Mr. Manneh sent his special thanks to the entire community of Essau and others for leaving behind their engagements to attend the ceremony.
“Through record and follow up to schools where our students are being transferred after completing their Nursery school level their academic performance are still maintain,” Manneh said.
He assured the parents that the confidence and trust they bestowed on them as teachers they do all they can to impact better knowledge to their children.
Headmaster Malick Manneh outlined his institutions constrains like: payment of teacher’s salaries, children sporting materials, children sponsorship, educational (learning) materials, classroom blocks, lack of kitchen, dining hall for students and teachers Bantaba.
Yusupa Marong on behalf of the chairman, Essau Community Nursery School, Mustapha Marong dilated on the topic: “Why enrolling our Children to Nursery School”.
Mr. Yusupha Marong expressed his thanks and appreciation to the management and administration of Essau Community Nursery school for the event.
He described the event as a touching moment for him in the sense that two things combined together that is happiness and sorrow adding that outgoing students were happy because they completed their Nursery School level.
“Starting your schooling at Nursery school level really makes you to improve academically at the rest of your educational career,” Marong explained.
Prizes were awarded to the outgoing deserving students while the cross section of Essau community and head-teachers within the area attended the ceremony
