College students need academic upliftment – Sidia Jatta

Hon. Sidia Jatta, National Assembly Member for Wuli West Constituency and a member of the National Alliance for Democracy and Development, NADD, has opined that with the current education system in high schools across the country, college students needs academic upliftment rather than professional training.

Jatta, who was speaking Tuesday during the Public Accounts/Enterprises Committees sessions at the National Assembly, which saw the Gambia College present its annual report for 2010/11 said he felt disturbed by comments of Professor Muhammed Kah, Vice Chancellor of the University of the Gambia and overseer of the Gambia College.

Kah in his presentation before members of the committees told deputies that the Gambia College is now stronger and better than ever before.

Vice Chancellor Kah highlighted some challenges facing the college, which range from low salaries for teachers, inadequate space, inadequate resources to carry out their programmes to inadequate infrastructure and learning materials.

In his intervention, the Wuli West parliamentarian said with the fact that such challenges exist is an indication that the level of education in the country is wanting, especially at the high school level.

“What students going to our college need is academic upliftment rather than professional training,” he said.

Responding to points raised by Professor Kah that the UTG is recruiting some of its best grandaunts, Sidia Jatta pointed out that the Gambia College is both an academic and professional institution, and those being newly recruited are not necessarily professionals, and can only help academically.

“Some of the new recruits from the University of the Gambia may not necessarily have the qualifications to help teachers,” Jatta stated, adding that one of the main problems of the College is that it has been without a principal for years now.

“That the Gambia College is better now than ever before, I find that statement very disturbing to me; is that not masking the reality of the Gambia College,” Sidia Jatta asked.          

Meanwhile, after a prolonged debate, deputies approved the reports of the Gambia College.