By: Nyima Sillah
School authorities within the Greater Banjul Area have called on government through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to provide them with sanitary materials to help curb spread of coronavirus, as school reopened.
The Principal of Neimasu Upper, Senior Secondary School, Saikou Sohna, told The Voice: “we do expect some of the items from the government but sometimes with the help of the PTA they do buy their own materials and they are just opening without funds so we are managing with the little they have.”
“We were expecting to get School Improvement Grant (SIG) paid before we resumed so we will able to get some for students, if not all the students, but it is unfortunate that the grant is late. I therefore encourage parents to also assist us regarding the use of facemask,” he added.
He said the government should be sending the funds earlier way before schools open also, the preventive items should be available in the school before students start their classes.
He said the total number of the students will resume on the 4th as the grade 12 are still on exams which will make it more essential to have all the items on board.
Meanwhile, Principal of Alieu Bun Abi Talib Islamic Institute, Ebrima Sanyang, also explained that the country is still battling with the virus and therefore, government should act emergently in providing these sanitary items to schools. Adding that, the previous items received were so helpful to all the students.
“We are trying to protect the students, MoBSE gave us some sanitary items before so we are calling on them to assist us again with more sanitary items for the benefit and protection of the students and the teachers,” Sanyang said.
Aji Awa Jobe acting deputy principal Latrikunda Sabiji, “We supply them (students) facemasks but the little students are hard to control they used to wear it but recently majority are coming without mask. My school did not receive any sanitary items yet so if they can afford more, it will be useful for us because right now we are lacking a lot of sanitary items so that we can help the children’s and the teachers,” she explained.
