As part of efforts geared towards achieving quality and
relevant education in the country, some 250 teacher trainees (TT) were recently
sensitised on the introduction of teaching of local languages in Lower Basic
Schools at Armitage senior secondary school in the Central River Region.
Addressing participants, the Regional Education Director Mr.
Babucarr Suwareh spoke at length on the importance of educating the young
people. He said that the idea of introducing local languages into Lower Basic
schools is to give better understanding of the curricular subjects. He urged
the participants to take the forum seriously.
For his part, Mr. Ousman Bah, Principal Education Officer (PEO)
informed the participants that the issue is a national programme as its
stipulated in the Education policy of The Gambia for national languages to be
used as a medium of instruction from grade one to three. He revealed that the
program will start with region 5, and are going to use the most spoken three
languages in the area namely Mandinka Fulla and Wollof.
Mr. Burama Jammeh Director of Curricular said with the
introduction of the new system, quality of education in schools would be
achieved as it will improve the level of understanding of the children.