By: Haruna Kuyateh
Bali Mandinka Basic Cycle School in Jokadou North Bank Region has now been blessed with a new two-classroom and office. The official inauguration was held on Tuesday, and sponsors, members of the community, students, and teachers were all in attendance.
The newly constructed classrooms and office, worth D864,525.00, were sponsored by the Bali Mandinka family and a former Peace Corps Volunteer named Holly Johnson, known as Mamjara Nyabally.
Holly Johnson also presented exercise books, pencils, and pens to the school during the official opening of the buildings.
Suun Drammeh, the Principal of the school expressed delight over the newly constructed structure and applauded the volunteer for its completion.
The Principal said this would enhance teaching and learning while noting that the school population is growing.
Meanwhile, she thanked the community of Bali Mandinka and its feeder villages for their active support and participation in mobilizing resources in regard to the needs of the school.
Holly Johnson Mamjara Nyabally, a former Peace Corps Volunteer said support for the school started in 2017 to 2019 when the US Peace Corps Volunteers as educators deemed it fitting to complement the efforts of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary School in enhancing the capacity of teachers for effective teaching and learning.
She used the moment to encourage parents to value the importance of education by allowing their children to complete their education to the tertiary level.
The Alkalo, Karamo Demba urged the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to upgrade the school to a senior secondary school to enable students to complete their educational cycle in the community.
He, therefore, urged the National Road Authority through the Ministry of Works to construct the roads linking Dasilamiwith Bali Mandinka and beyond to ease the transportation of goods and services, as the road is in a deplorable condition.
Sulayman Bojang, Chairman of the School Management Committee thanked them all for their support towards the completion of the project, he also hailed parents for enrolment of their children in the school.