Armitage
Ex-students Association (ARMEXSA), Saturday organized a forum to recall the
school’s memories, successes, challenges and the way forward.
The
forum was held on the theme: Impacts of Armitage on the socio-economic
development of The Gambia, as the first high school in the country.
Hassoum
Ceesay, Director General of National Center for Arts and Culture (NCAC), who
was a one-time student of the school said Armitage was established in January
1927 by Governor Sir Cecil Armitage, who he said the school was named after.
Armitage
is located in Georgetown, Janjanbureh and have been in existence for about 90
years since its establishment.
Mr
Ceesay said there was never a time when the school catered for solemnly the
sons of chiefs as it is a popular belief that Armitage was meant for ‘sons of
chiefs.’
Sainey
M.K Marenah, a former student leader and the current head of communications at
the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) said the forum was meant to reflect
on memories and successful students from the school.
He
said his experience at Armitage was a turning point in his life, adding that
the beauty of Armitage is the strong bonds that exist amongst its students.
‘‘Boarding schools are trouble free and make you independent, social, and very
responsible person in life,’’ he said.
Michael
Hamadi Secka, also an ex-student of the school described Armitage as a model
for every student who passes through it, saying that the school is known for
its academic potential, identity, humanity and physical development.
Madi
Mangan, an economist a former student of the school described Armitage as a
main source of education to rural children.
