22 December 2009

 

STUDENTS AT FARAFFENI SSS URGED TO WORK HARD AT SCHOOL

The executive members of the National Patriotic Students Association (NAPSA) have called on students of secondary schools in the country to work hard for success in their various schools.

The student body made these remarks at a visit conducted to Farafenni Senior Secondary School in North Bank Region recently.

The aim of the visit was for the executive of the association to familiarise themselves with the new executive members of the Farafenni SSS Welfare Association and also to have the opportunity of talking to both sides on the need for attaining standard and quality education in schools.

Speaking at the ceremony, Modou Salieu Sowe, chairperson of NAPSA underscored the importance the association attaches to promoting mutual understanding, dedication and hard work among teachers and students in the transfer of knowledge and skills.

According to Sowe, students should be respectful to their teachers and be hardworking. He advised them to always be dedicated to their studies, adding that the teacher-student ratio remains the biggest challenge to the government as far as NAPSA is concerned.

He added that without adequate teachers in schools, the provision and attainment of quality education in the country becomes thwarted and difficult.

“The attainment of quality education calls for concerted efforts and high sense of belonging and discipline from students to support the Farafenni Senior School administration in due execution of their functions,” Sowe said, commending the school administration for their openness and clean-hearted discussion on the way forward for achieving quality education for all as documented in the country’s education policy.

According to him, it is incumbent on the newly inaugurated executive council of the welfare association to work hard and inculcate a high sense of morality and discipline among students. He also promised that NAPSA would soon establish a divisional headquarters in Farafenni, North Bank Region.

For his part, Honourable Seedy Njie, nominated National Assembly member of the Gambia Parliament and the coordinator of NAPSA urged students to work in their studies so that they could continue to enjoy the various opportunities created by the government, including the scholarships package for needy and deserving students as well as the opportunity to study in the university.

He added further that the provision of partly free education for girls in the country is a bid to eradicate illiteracy among women and to enhance their participation in national development.

Also speaking, Babou Cham, head boy of Farafenni Senior School who is currently the chairperson NAPSA Welfare Association in Farafenni hoped that the promise that a divisional headquarters would soon be opened in Farafenni comes to reality sooner than expected.

According to Cham, it is also important to motivate students to become good citizens of the country, noting that this is the main aim and objective of NAPSA.

He said forming such an association in schools will highly develop the students’ ability in becoming good leaders in future. He said that this could be achieved through dialogue, actions and motivation that is normally done by NAPSA in schools.

Giving the vote of thanks, Fatou A. Sowe, a Grade 12 student of the school commended NAPSA for the work done in establishing the Welfare Association which will go long way in fostering unity among students in schools.

21 December 2009

 

TARUD GIVES TO FLOOD VICTIMS

Trust Agency for Rural Development (TARUD) in collaboration with Concern Universal recently donated items including bags of rice, cement, buckets, corrugated iron sheets and sanitary materials to over twenty disaster victims in a ceremony held at Gunjur, Kombo South, Western Region.
Speaking at the ceremony, Faburama Darboe, TARUD’s focal person for disaster and risk reduction thanked Concern Universal for their timely donation of essential items to flood victims which would go a long way in alleviating their suffering.
Mr. Darboe also hailed the newly appointed Western Region Disaster Management coordinator, Mr. Serigne Modou Joof for supporting and helping them in the identification of the needy and most vulnerable of those affected by heavy rains and flood.
For his part Alhagie Sandang Bojang, the director of TARUD also hailed Concern Universal for collaborating with them in helping disaster victims.
“Many of the victims receiving this donation have to rebuild their homes and lives all over again after having their houses razed to the ground and food stuffs destroyed by the flood, and I guess this would go a long way in helping them rebuild their homes and lives,” Bojang said.
Mr. Bojang also thanked the regional disaster committee for helping in many ways to enable them achieve their desire to help the disaster victims. He also promised that his office would always be ready to work with the newly established disaster coordination committee to help the needy.
Mr. Serigne Modou Joof, speaking on behalf of Governor Lamin Sanneh of Western Region and National Disaster Management Agency, thanked TARUD and Concern Universal for coming to the aid of disaster victims. He added that the government, left alone, cannot do everything by itself. He commended nongovernmental organisations like TARUD for helping in complementing the efforts of the government.
Mr. Joof lamented that over seven thousand families were affected during the rainy season. He also used the opportunity to counsel victims to stick to proper building codes to avoid building their houses in places or areas prone to disaster and floods. He mentioned optimism of his committee to work in closer collaboration with NGO’s and partners in the region to help disaster victims.
Sheikh Alhaji Shaiban Cham, representative of Gunjur village Alkalo at the ceremony also thanked TARUD and Concern Universal for the wonderful gesture and also advised the beneficiaries to put the donated items to good use. Musukebba Bojang from Sanyang village, one of the beneficiaries, thanked the donors for coming to their aid at a time when they need it most.