By Mama A Touray
The Gambia Teachers’ Union through support from the Education and solidarity network at the Christian Council in Kanifing has trained 41 academician education personnel in region one on occupational health.
The training aimed at training educational personnel with key information to raise awareness of the importance of school of health for quality education, develop their understanding of social protection, and union rights in The Gambia.
According to a statement from the GTU official page “In 2021, the Gambia participated in the first edition of the international barometer on educational personnel’s health and well-being through the involvement of GTU who distributed the survey to its members”
The statement further continued that a total of two hundred and twenty-two Gambian teachers responded to the question offering a unique insight into the experiences of Gambian teachers in 2021.
Among other findings, the results highlighted high expectations in terms of professional training.
“Sixty-four percent of Gambian teachers feel their perform tasks and they need more training, ninety-two do not have access to training and or prevention resources to health well-being as well as social protection” it stated.
The statement added that three out of four teachers are dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their access to health care; fifty percent of the teachers had to forgo some health care due to financial constraints.
It concluded that by analyzing issues related to their working conditions, their well-being, the barometer aims to support national and international policies to promote the health and well-being of educational communities.