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Kerewan Senior Secondary School holds 2nd grand speech and prize giving ceremony

Jul 19, 2016, 10:42 AM | Article By: Yai Dibba

Kerewan Senior Secondary School on Friday held its 2nd grand speech and prize giving ceremony for the 5th batch of the graduands.

The event was held at the school grounds in Kerewan, North Bank Region.

The theme for this year’s graduation is: “The importance of vocational and technical education in school”.

Speaking on the occasion, the school’s principal Bai S.K. Jawara lauded the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education for the introduction of School Improvement Grant, saying it had enhanced effective learning and teaching.

He disclosed that D217,825 had been spent to enhance teaching of technical and vocational education and to provide scientific equipment and chemical, furniture for the laboratory, food and nutrition and electrification of the school.

He said the vision of the school is to be a centre for academic excellence as well as for technical skills, to earn products of the school the skills and knowledge for a better living.

Commenting on the performance of the school in WASCE, he said the school had continued to register remarkable successes, noting that most of its products are enrolled at Gambia College and the University of The Gambia.

He used the occasion to call on the communities to forge closer collaboration with the school on promoting enrolment and retention and above all contributing to the attainment of quality education.

Principal Jawara hailed the Agency for the Development of Women and Children (ADWAC) for upgrading the basket lawn of the school, saying it strengthens sporting activities.

He said the school is committed to producing well motivated and disciplined students to compete with others in the job markets and tertiary institutions.

The guest speaker on the occasion, Executive Director Mamsamba Joof, said there is need for parents to encourage their children to take technical and vocation training serious, to enhance the human resource of the country.

He said that globally 115 million children “are not going to school”, due to conflict, diseases, early marriage and low-income status of families.

Building the country’s human resources on technical and vocation education calls for an increase of resources, he said, adding that it creates employment opportunities for the youth.

The ADWAC boss reiterated that youth employment remains a global concern and stresses the need for parents and the youth to value acquisition of technical education.

Vocational education promotes entrepreneurship and serves as engine of growth for small and medium enterprises, he said.

Mr Joof calls for inclusion of vocational and technical education into school curriculum at Lower Basic School, with a view to encouraging skills acquisition at tender age, by adding relevant vocational contents.

Almamy Fatty, chairperson of the School Management Committee, assured of the school’s commitment to quality teaching and learning. He stressed the need for the communities to maintain closer ties with the school to improve their learning environment.

Mustapha Dampha, head boy of the school, called on students to be vigilant and to take learning seriously.

Certificates were presented to deserving students and teachers for their hard work and commitment.