By Yunus S Saliu
The Director of Basic and Secondary Education Directorate (BSED) has expressed the Ministry’s success over the piloted phase of the Family and Intergenerational Literacy and Learning Project (FILL) piloted in the North Bank Region at Njama Siyan and Kaleng Jawobeh in Central River Region of the Gambia.
Speaking at the ongoing two-day consultative forum on Family and Intergenerational Literacy and Learning Project (FILL) organized by UNESCO-NATCOM in collaboration with the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) and funded by the UNESCO Institute for Life Long Learning Tida Jatta Jarjou, director BSED disclosed that the concept of learning how to read and write together in one class was not only practiced during classes but also continued in the home.
Reflecting on the project, she noted that ‘family literacy approach has registered some successes in the pilot phase and identified as beneficial and relevant to the literacy skills of adults and children.’
She disclosed that children that attended FILL classes and the lower basic school has reported that their participation in FILL classes helped them improve their understanding of a number of topics covered at schools, especially in the case of learning numbers and arithmetical operations. “The predominant reason given for these improvements was that FILL classes were given in their mother tongue as opposed to English, which is used in the formal education system,” she added.
Among other importance of the project, the director of BSED went further explained that adult learners appreciated the FILL programme because the ability to read and write helped them not to be deceived by others when making their daily purchases. Also, she said, parents have reported that the FILL classes enable them to help their children with their homework, made them aware of how their children were performing in school, and to also look after their own health and that of their children.
Madam Jarjou however congratulated all the identified literacy providers and expressed optimism that the second phase will bring a lot more improvement on the pilot phase.
Speaking on behalf of the Secretary General NatCom-UNESCO, Maimuna Sidibeh – Principal programme Officer expressed appreciation over the Gambia education policy 2016/2020 which has made a pronouncement on non-formal education program that is relevant and comprehensive which will be executed including distance education using modern technological media focus on literacy and numeracy as well as livelihood skills.
She commended UIL for their invaluable support to the country in providing literacy lifelong skills to both young and elderly generation to enable them become better and productive citizens, not only in The Gambia “but wherever they might find themselves in future.”
As literacy is the skill that unlocks the gate of opportunities and success she encouraged parents to instill in their children a love of knowledge in order to give them the skill to fulfill their dreams.
Dr Jamila Razzaq, a facilitator from the UIL reflected on the previous phase of the project and as well thanked the literacy providers for their contributions on the first phase and the uphold second phase.
Dr Jamila congratulated the literacy providers for making the piloted phase successful and assured them of more success as the second phase would help to generate more funds and attract more attentions as breaking the barrier between the school and family. She as well expressed delight over the level of commitment of the participants while dilating on the importance of the programme.