By: Kebba Ansu
The managements of Yunus English School and Paradise TV station have sealed a deal to offer school lessons through the private television station channel meant to recover lost contact hours, between students and teachers, experienced by schools throughout the country due largely to the yet to end coronavirus pandemic.
This is the first ever private sector sponsored partnership to deliver televised education to Gambian students since the pandemic was declared in the country in 2020. “Our decision to establish this partnership is mainly influence by the effects of coronavirus pandemic on our education system,” Yunus Silla, proprietor of Yunus English School in Busumbala affirmed.
He said it is obvious that Gambian students have lost lots of contact hours and the need to recover this becomes necessary.
Mr Sillah stated “This collaboration will benefit Gambian students as it will avail them the opportunity to recover the lost contact hours they should have with their teachers. Students can tune into this TV teaching program which will be delivered by well trained and experienced teachers of Yunus English School even when they (students) are in their sitting rooms.”
According to him, Yunus English School was able to resume its six days schooling for students before the emerged of the pandemic which many schools couldn’t do. Thus becomes imperative to establish collaboration with Paradise TV to give chance to many other students to recover through the televised broadcast.
“It will be disappointing on our part if we don’t do efforts to narrow or eliminate the gap that exist between us. This is why we offer this opportunity for those students who couldn’t go back to school as a result of the negative effects of the pandemic and as well for financial reason experienced by their families,” he explained.
The private school proprietor dilated on the need to empower indigenous business, which Yunus English School Proprietor observed that Gambian own businesses, institutions, industries and other Gambian entities are here for the good of the citizenry. Saying the locally driven ventures deserves to be given conservative compassion and priorities by Gambian government and the citizens.
“These Gambian own businesses should always be patronized by the Gambian people and government support for them must be an infinity. Yunus English School and Paradise TV station are Gambian owned institutions ready to make an impact on the development of the Gambia by spending millions of Dalasis in fixed investment in the country,” Proprietor Silla disclosed.
According to him, these two private entities have hired hundreds of Gambian citizens who have families to take care from salaries received, adding that it will be important for Gambian people to open their arms in welcoming such institutions and the great initiatives they undertake by opening doors and listening to their ideas and concerns.
He hailed the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) for their sacrifices and good job, while affirmed that authorities at the ministry have great compassion and care for all private schools and Madarasas throughout the country.
“Though the government of President Barrow has given the schools the peace and conducive environment for teaching and learning in the country but I will like the government to do more. The teachers of private schools and Madarasas are still waiting for the assistance from the government,” Silla revealed.
He added: “The teachers in these schools are heavily indebted at the banks and other institutions and they could not pay because the schools were closed for over seven months without no salaries pay to the teachers as a result of Covid-19.”
In his appeal to the government he said “President Barrow, please, I would like you to look into the affairs of the teachers of private schools and madarasas as they were closed for seven months which drastically affected their modus operandi.
He finally disclosed that the much awaited Yunus English School hour on Paradise TV Station is expected to begin on April 19, 2021 at 4:30 PM local time that’s 16:30 GMT, noting that it will also be aired on Paradise TV station every other Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays weekly.