The
Salimatou Foundation for Education (SaFE) has expressed “great concern” about
the low attendance of pupils since the political crisis ended.
The
foundation is urging all parents and guidance to send their children back to
school as schools have now resumed full lessons.
A
statement from SaFE, civil society organisation that promotes and advocates for
free, relevant and high quality education for all, said the foundation is
trying “by all means” to encourage children to go back to school.
As
part of its efforts to get children back to school, the foundation also uses
social media platforms in order to reach out to many parents and guidance to
urge them to send their children back to school.
The
political impasse that followed the former president, Yahya Jammeh’s rejection
of the result of the 1st December presidential election had made thousands of
people to flee the country and others left the Greater Banjul Area and Kombos
for the provinces.
Humanitarian
organiaations said that majority of those who fled or seek sanctuary in the
provinces are women and school-going children.
This
made the schools empty and as a result, classes were paused.
The
Salimatou foundation said now that the impasse has been peacefully resolved and
classes resumed, parents should send their children back to school.
The
foundation is concerned that if the current absenteeism of students continues
unabated, “it may seriously affect” the performance of students in the grade 9
and 12 examinations.
