Fajara
8 August 2017- The non-profit Gambia Teaching Trust has introduced a one
million Dalasi Award in recognition of the most outstanding Gambian teacher of
the year. Members of the Trust announced this to President Adama Barrow when
they visited him in his office in Fajara today.
National
Coordinator Ebrima Sonko said the Trust will hold its Annual Teacher Award
ceremony in January 2018, at which time it will reward its first
recipient. Mr Sonko said the winner
would go on to represent The Gambia at the Global Teachers Award in Dubai in
August 2018. The Trust invited President Barrow to be Chief Patron of the
Award, an invitation which he happily accepted.
Mr
Sonko explained that the award will underscore the importance of educators in
The Gambia, and would be open to teachers across the country. The Trust has set up a committee of eleven
veteran educationalists to look at the applications of all teachers from across
the country, ultimately selecting the best teacher.
President
Barrow described the initiative as a noble one.
He said salaries of public servants, including teachers, were appalling
and a review of this situation needed to be factored into ongoing reform
discussions. The Gambian leader said
institutional reforms, require transparency, accountability and discipline in
structures to avoid unnecessary wasteful practices. He assured the members of the Trust of his
commitment and support for investment in the education sector.
The
Gambia Teaching Trust is an independent non-profit charitable organisation that
seeks to complement the efforts of the government in recognising, supporting
and appreciating the efforts of Teachers in The Gambia.
