Thursday, December 13, 2007

Gambia



Here's another Africa story. I think it's interesting how African countries are working to bring education to a standard everyone understands.

Gambia: Butterfly No.1 Nursery School Inaugurated

Hatab Fadara

A nursey school built at the tune of D500,000 by the Norwegian Butterfuly Association, Friends of Ebo Town and One People was on Saturday innaugurated at Kiang Nema, Lower River Region.

The school has a capacity of over two hundred students and provides free access to early childhood education with free clothing.

The philanthropists also off-loaded a 40-foot container containing educational materials such as furniture, books, sports equipment and cartons of second hand clothing, amongst others.

In his inaugural speech on behalf of the governor of Lower River Region, Lamin Darboe, deputy governor lauded the project, describing it as an important milestone in the annals of Nema Village.

According to him, a nursey school is not only a preparatory room for learning but helps the child to acquire good character and discipline that will make them become responsible future leaders. He added that it is obligatory upon all human beings to seek knowledge in any form as according to him, it is only through education that sustainable development can be achieved.

"Development in the true sense is not mapped in a single route. It is apparent that the best tool to any meaningful and lasting standard of living is through education. Therefore, the sponsors of this nursery school in Nema have done it all, since the importance of early childhood education cannot be over-emphasised," he noted.

According to deputy governor Darboe, the descision by the sponsors to build a nursery school in Nema that will provide free childhood education to two hundred students, is in line with the Gambia government policies and priorities in providing quality, accessible and affordable education to all.

He challenged parents to inculcate good morals and learning aptitude into their children as well as to nurture discipline, which he said, is the cornerstone of any viable and decent society. He then assured the sponsors of his office's unflinching support to the nursery school.

Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Anbjorg Juliussen, head of the Norwegian group expressed his delight. She hailed the people of Kiang Nema for their loyalty towards the project, adding that more projects for the village are in the pipeline.

Mrs Juliussen used the occasion to disclose some of their projects in the country such as the Butterfly Number 1 ursery school, Jeshwang health centre and the Ebo Town school projects amongst others.

Relevant Links

Lamin B Fadera, an intermediary between the sponsors and the village, said the initiative could not have come at a better time than now to help children of the village start their early childhood education at the primary level.

Mama Jarssey-Jawara, president of Nema Keita Kafo echoed similar sentiments and appealed to the donors to assist the village with more project.

Other speakers at the ceremony were Chief Demba Sanyang of Kiang Central and Bakary Seedy Fadera. The ceremony was entertained with a cultural performances.




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