The presentation of the cheques that was well attended by school principals, Governor of the West Coast Region, ward councilors, staff of BAC, parents, as well as members of the community, communities, was held at the council grounds.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Bakary Saibo Sanneh, chairman of Brikama Area Council, described the ceremony as symbolic in the history of the council in the sense that the payment of scholarship and the provision of financial aid to the needy and disadvantaged students has been a core corporate social responsibility for years now.
This, he said, is a manifestation of BAC’s total commitment to continue to provide opportunities and access to disadvantaged deserving students to acquire relevant and quality education like any other students in this country.
‘‘As a custodian of tax payers money, BAC will endeavor to plough back the revenue collected from the citizenry in the form of services. In this way, the council will compliment the efforts of the government in bringing education to the doorstep of even those in the remotest part of the Gambia,’’ Chairman Sanneh stated.
He admonished the beneficiaries of the scholarship to make the best use of the opportunity offered to them, noting that the continuity of the scholarship will depend on the performance of the beneficiary students.
‘‘My council will not and I repeat, my council will not condone or entertain the continued sponsoring of failing students in all aspects,’’ he added.
For his part, Ismaila Badjie, chairperson of the sub-education committee of the Brikama Area Council, expressed council’s commitment to plough back the revenue collected back to the communities in various ways.
He noted that Council relies on the revenues that flow in to be able to accomplish its mandate.
Also speaking on behalf of the regional education directorate in region two, Mikel Gibba lauded the move and called on the beneficiary students to make best use of the scholarship.
‘‘This money is the taxpayers’ money that is plough back to the students of this nation. I am sure my colleagues in the profession will take great care of this funds and will be use for its purpose and will also reach the right beneficiaries,’’ Gibba stated.
He also appealed to the council to pay the funds on time to avoid delayance at the school, while commending BAC for complementing the efforts of the government.
For his part, Alhagie Lamin Sanneh, Governor of the West Coast Region, said the presentation came at a time when most schools are crying about arrears and examination fees by the West African Examination Council.
Governor Sanneh commended BAC for being very good partners in development especially when it comes to supporting the government in the area of education.
‘‘Today as we all know, education is a key priority to the government under the leadership of President Yahya Jammeh,’’ he stated.
This, he added, has been demonstrated by President Jammeh’s ability to support many projects in the country among them PEGEP and the Jammeh Foundation for Peace.
According to Governor Sanneh, today education is very critical when it comes to quality education because the policy has demonstrated access, relevance and quality, which he said, are key.
The target, he further stated, is to ensure that by 2015, all Gambian students acquire basic education in this country.
