The European
Union with its local implementers led by the National Council for Civic
Education (NCCE) recently reviewed the just-concluded “access to justice civic
education campaign project” that was held in three communities in the country,
including Brikama, Kwinella in Kiang and Kuraw in Sandu.
Implementers and other stakeholders of the project are calling for support for the project to continue, as they have also vowed to keep it up and running even with meager resources.
Our take in that direction is that such a project needs all out support, as it is done to ensure that people are well sensitised about their civic rights and responsibilities, as well as their legal rights.
Commenting during the review the chairman of the NCCE said they have realised that by working together with other people to sensitise the communities on civic education they could achieve a lot with such programmes.
“We started something good for our community and country and we should continue to do as much as we can for our country.”
The lessons learnt during the implementation of the project, according to the Lower River Region Governor, would help communities to be more aware of their rights and responsibilities as well as how to solve disputes amicably and to live together in peace.
As a result “communities are ready to accept and take ownership of the project”.
The civic education drive also helps greatly to foster peace, tranquility and progress in the country.Therefore, such an initiative must be guarded and promoted, with support for its continuity.
While we commend the Gambia government for creating an enabling environment for the successful implementation of the project, we would also like to join in thanking the European Union for funding the project over the period.
“Communities are ready to accept and take ownership of the project,” he said as he thanked the Gambia government for the conducive environment created.
Access to justice and legal education and civic education are democratic values that need to be nurtured. For instance, Civic education in a democracy is education in self-government. And Democratic self-government means that citizens are actively involved in their own governance; they do not just passively accept the dictums of others or acquiesce to the demands of others.
Since such education is essential to building the civic rights of citizens of a country, it needs to be promoted for the good of the individual and the society.
“It is the State which educates its citizens in civic virtue, gives them a consciousness of their mission and welds them into unity.”
Benito Mussolini
