Scanaid Principal Underscores Girls' Education

The Principal of Scanaid Senior Secondary School at Brufut, has put special emphasis on the importance of girls' education and life skills.

Madam Mariama Baldeh, the Principal of Scanaid Secondary School, in her address during the school's speech and price giving ceremony, spoke on the increased enrollment and its significant expansion in girls' intake.

"The donors have not lost sight of the mission's statement for the establishment of the school, that is educating the girl and improving the lots of Gambian children in Brufut and its environs, a goal they have been aggressively pursued with tenacity of purpose," she stated.

She said Scanaid's enrolment was 433, out of which 74% of them are girls, while 26% are boys. The school has registered a significant increase in the enrollment and retention of girls, compared to the previous year, she said.  "I am convinced that in the not too distant future, Scanaid Senior Secondary School shall be a girls' school as more girls are coming into school now than boys. We are reaching the government's policy statement on girl's education," she said.

Madam Baldeh ascribed this to the visionary and patriotic leadership of President Jammeh. Ms Baldeh said she has relatively stable staffs, who have been very outstanding in the execution of their duties to the school.

"Mr. Chairman, my school is not experiencing acute teacher mobility as other schools are. Going through 2008/2009 school year, I lost two teachers, one left for transport constraints and the other was dismissed for inefficiency and lethargy by the Scanaid Board of Governors.

Talking about sports, Principal Baldeh said they were moving fast ahead. She said they had received some sporting materials from their Norwegian friends.

She however lamented the lack of standard playing field at the school. She appealed to the Brikama Area Council and the Governor of Western Region, to assist them with a site for the field. She further talked on the pace of development that is taking place in the school.

"We have started a primary school and will be finished in September 09. After the WASSCE exams, 83 candidates took the exams, 20% got 5 credits, 43% got 4 credits, 20% got 3 credits, 10% got passed and 7% got failure rate. Most of those who passed are now pursuing courses in reputable institutions," she explained.

She recounted a litany of constraints they are confronted with, including parents' refusal to pay school fees for their kids, the lack of a school bus, and then warned that the school would soon face a staff problem.

She advised the graduating students to join the old students' association, which she said was formed two years ago. She thanked Access Bank for providing last year's inter house trophy and this year's excellence trophy.