(Wednesday 23rd October 2019 Issue)
Media
Academy for Journalist and Communication (MAJaC), Wednesday oriented new batch
of students for the certificate and foundation courses; held at the school
conference hall in Kanifing South.
The
media educational institution aims to build the competence of Gambian
journalists to ensure effective service delivery in the media fraternity. It
offers from foundation, certificate to advance diploma levels in journalism and
communication.
Addressing
the new students, managing director Sang Mendy welcome the new journalists for
choosing MAJaC to build their careers. “This makes us happy because you have
decided to choose us as an institution that would equip you with skills and
share experiences with you,” he said.
He
said one of the principal objectives of the media educational institution is to
produce quality journalists that would contribute to the country’s socio
economic development.
“Without
journalists, development will deter because journalists are the fourth estate
in every government. Without the check and balance provided by journalists,
other players in government would do whatever they wish to do,” he said.
He
further said that MAJaC would equip the journalists with the skills, knowledge
and courage so as to hold government and government officials accountable on
their deeds.
Director
Mendy revealed that the institution has produced young journalists who are
working in respectable media houses as well as government institutions. “80% of
our current advance diploma students are all working and some of them are
movers and shakers of the day to day news and current affairs in The Gambia,”
he disclosed.
Mendy,
a professional journalist himself, said the institution has highly qualified
lecturers who had been working in media fraternity for quite a while, noting
that there is no shortcut to success.
He
challenged the upcoming students to work harder so as to attain their
aspirations, telling them that they must apply perseverance in order to excel.
He warned the students to minimize their social activities that could affect
their education as well as work.
He
assured that the school would provide essential learning equipment for
students, necessary training as well as the right environment but said students
need to fulfill 85% attendance to sit for exams.
Demba
Kandeh, director of training described the media institution as a centre of
excellence, saying the institution is looking forward to attain the sustainable
development goals for journalists.
He
called on the students to exercise mutual respect among themselves and care the
school learning materials so as to benefit them and other future students.
Kandeh,
a UTG and MAJaC journalism lecturer assured that if any student passes through
the institution will be able to work for any media organisation while called on
students to fully prepare for the course as it involves hard work.
He
advised students to utilize the resources their parents spent on them so as to
get a fruitful future.
Mustapha
Ceesay, President of MAJaC student union said the union aims to promote the
welfare of the students as well as dialogue with the administration.
