Mansa Colley Nursery School opened

A new nursery school known as Mansa Colley Nursery School was recently opened in Jalanbang village in West Coast Region.

The official opening ceremony was attended by a cross-section of people in the village, senior government officials from the Ministry of Education and the donors.

In his welcoming address, Madi L.M. Bojang, chairperson of the school board, thanked all those who witnessed the ceremony.

He also thanked the donors who came all the way from Holland to sponsor the nursery school for the community of Jalanbang through the efforts of their brother Muctarr Bojang.

“I want to inform this gathering that this school started since last year in November and today is the opening ceremony,” he explained.

Mr Bojang said the school will help a lot of students, particularly those students who do come all the way from Brikama, which is considered very far for the children.

“We therefore have a vision with Muctarr and we want the progress of this school up to university,” he said.

Lamin Jatta. Alkalo of Jalanbang, also thanked the donors, saying “they are all the time welcome” in the village of Jalanbang.

The alkalo further thanked the Gambian leader for his efforts at boosting the education sector.

He described Muctarr Bojang as a patriotic citizen and applauded him for complementing government’s effort in developing the nation.

Since they started building the school, he said, Muctarr has been working very hard for its completion.

While thanking the donors for what they have done, the alkalo also appealed to the donors that they also need a health centre and an ambulance for the area.

Muctarr Bojang, coordinator of the project, commended the people of Jalanbang for the warm welcome accorded him and his donors.

He said: “I came to know Victor Knippenborg about five years ago when they came to The Gambia and they have built a hospital for the mentally challenged people. From there I went to Holland to meet him and he asked what next should we do for The Gambia. That’s the time I told him ‘we can build a school for the community of Jalanbang’.

“I chose this place because there are things which impressed me more about the place. He said building the school here will help the children to know more about the environment.”

Mr Bojang thanked the donors for sponsoring the school in Jalanbang village.

He also called on the villagers to make good use of the school by sending their children to it.

Victor Knippenborg, representative of Maas Luis of Rotary Club of Holland, said he was very happy about what he saw at the school and in the village.

“The people of Jalanbang are so friendly,” he said, adding: “If you want to improve, you have to improve the children because they are going to be the leaders of tomorrow.”

He assured the people of Jalanbang that his club would continue to support the school and other areas of the community.

The gracious ceremony was entertained by musicians.