By Lamin B. Darboe
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) in collaboration with UNESCO (NATCOM) are currently organizing a three-day “National Conference on Teacher Policy” at the Regional Education Directorates in Brikama.
Adama Jimba Jobe commended MoBSE staff and its stakeholders and Human Resource Directorate under MoBSE for graciously working hard to make the ‘National Conference on Teacher Policy” happened.
DPS Jobe on behalf of the minister MoBSE also extended sincere appreciation to UNESCO through NATOCM for principally funding the program and reiterated the importance MoBSE attaches to the attainment of relevant and quality education as enshrined in the National Development Plan (NDP).
According to DPS Jobe, development of teacherpolicy will enhance the management and motivation of teachers across the country, thus will help MoBSE in their collective efforts in progressive drive to attain Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Number 4.
“Despite the success registered over the years on teacher management, still there are lots of challenges faced by teachers depending on their demographical, gender, age, ethnical, health, cultural and marital conditions,” he said.
DPS Jobe added: “There are efforts to examine the working conditions of teachers and the fundamental gap to this effect is the absence of a Teacher Policy against which these conditions may be assessed and improved”.
Director, Human Resource Directorate at MoBSE, Ebrima Saidy informed participants that Teacher Policy is an outcome of the World Education Forum in Incheon, Republic of Korea in May 2015.
“The global education community under the leadership of UNESCO framed the priorities for a common education agenda within SDGs for the next 15 years and MoBSE in partnership with UNESCO through NATCOM invested both financial and time resources to develop a comprehensive Teacher Policy,” Mr. Saidy explained.
Lamin Jarjou who represented UNESCO secretary general at Gambia Office spoke on length about the crucial role teachers are playing in the development of the country, while emphasizing that if teachers are to perform well to the expectation of the Gambians, they should be given guidelines that would support them.
