Acute water shortage hits Wellingara Arabic School

Wellingara Arabic and English Institution in Kombo North District is been faced with acute water shortage this past week, making teaching and learning at the said institutions more difficult.

 With a population of more than seven hundred students, the situation at the school is now forcing students to move around in the nearby neighbourhoods to access water.

“This water shortage is really affecting teaching and learning in the school,” headmaster Muhammed Lamin Chatty told our reporter.

The school, which is set to commemorate its 10th year anniversary, was established in 2008. A number of students have graduated from the school, some of whom are now pursuing their degrees at the University of The Gambia, while others are lecturing in difference schools.

Mr. Chatty said the school is without a fence, leaving it exposed to both people and animals, adding that movement of people inside the school also distract lessons.  He appealed to institutions and individuals to support them in their bid to transform the school into a modern Arabic school in the country.

“Again, because the school is not fenced, some people are taking that advantage to dump waste materials there. In fact, some of our materials like batteries at the Mosque are taken away by unknown individuals.”

Commenting on some of their plans, Mr. Chatty said they hoped to build the staff capacity, improve infrastructure and ensure that the school has a modern computer lab for students to conduct their researches.

School chairman Samba Baldeh said as the school clocks 10, it is significance to reflect on some of their achievements and pave the way forward to enable them to accomplish their target development aspirations.

He called on donors and individuals to support the school to promote teaching and learning in the area. “However, due to our continued commitment and support of key our partners it has been transformed into one of the leading schools in the country.”

Former school chairman Kebba Cham, said part of their plans is to introduce grade nine for English, adding that teachers’ salary payment is another factor affecting the school as they entirely depend on school fees for the payment of salaries.