By Yunus S Saliu
The Stone Circles of Senegambia continued to attract more schools in Niani and Nianija in the Central River Region has the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) through the UNESCO World Heritage’s International Assistance Programme support kicked-off a series of school based activities on the Stone Circles of Senegambia.
The NCAC kicked-start the programme with the Niani Senior Secondary School, the home of one of the largest Stone Circles sites in Senegambia.
In 2006, UNESCO inscribed the Stone Circles of Senegambia in its World heritage List. And under the project titled ‘Strengthening and Valorization the Stone Circles of Senegambia’ funded by UNESCO, the National Centre for Arts and Culture has prepared education school based worksheets on facts and figures about the Stone Circles to be administered to students in schools in Stone Circles sites in Niani and Nianija districts. The activity will involve 6 schools in the areas for about 200 students to participate.
Giving insight into the project, Mamat Sallah, Assistant Director Museums and Monuments NCAC said their aim “is to use the knowledge about the Stone Circles to support the educational attainment of students and contribute to the quest for quality education in the country.”
He noted that the Information Kits developed contained facts and figures about the Stone Circles that have been validated; “the worksheets and other exercises that derive from the Information Kit will assist the students to know more about this unique heritage, and also build awareness about their significance, value and encourage conservation.”
More to that as per the event, the students did toured the museum, site, quarries and tours was led by team of tour guides. Then they read the Information Kit and did the works on the worksheets which have over 70 multiple choice questions with short answers, drawing questions. This was followed by given prices to students with most correct answers on each session to motivate them.
According to Mr Sallah, later in the year, School Art and Essay contest will be held themed on how to conserve the Stone Circles and quiz contest will be held too between schools on the value and significance of the Stone Circles to cement their knowledge about the UNESCO World Heritage Property.
‘Now I can see that the knowledge about the Stone Circles can indeed help me in my history, geography, arts and craft and science lessons. I found the drawing and crosswords exercises very exciting. I did not want the session to end’ said a student in Grade 11 who took part in the session held on Saturday at Wassu site.