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.