The
principal of Bato-Kunku Nursing Training School in Kombo South district of West
Coast Region has said the main reason for building the training institute is to
complement the Gambia government’s efforts in skills acquisition for the
Gambian youth, especially school leavers.
Baboucarr Jatta made these comments on Monday during an exclusive interview with The Point in his office at Bato-Kunku, Bato-Kunku-Sanyang highway.
“Basically we want to complement the Government’s efforts in the area of skills acquisition for our own Gambian youth as it is incumbent upon us as Gambians to make a mark in our country’s development agenda,” Jatta said.
He thanked the proprietor of the training school, Momodou Kassama, whom he described as someone who saw the need of having such an important training school for young school leavers in the country.
He said knowledge and skills acquired at the institute could serve as lifelong profession.
According to Jatta, the proprietor, Momodou Kassama, is a seasoned nurse who worked for government and the private medical services for many years at various hospitals and clinics throughout the country.
“The school started operation in 2009 with 38 young men and women with no school fee levy on them by the school management during their two-year course,” he said, adding that at the end of the two-year course all the 38 students were certificated with nursing assistant standard.
Jatta said the school started asking for tuition fee during the second batch of students, who numbered 46.
The third batch had 86 students, he said, adding that this year’s batch, which is their fourth, recorded 100 students, for both morning and afternoon shifts at 50 each.
“Since we started operation in 2009 we have graduated 170 students, and 90% of our former students are now working at various private clinics like Pakala and Lamtoro, and our former students did their practicals at both government and private health facilities within the Greater Banjul Area.
The health facilities, he recalled, included Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul, SereKunda, Brikama, Faji-Kunda and Bakau Major Health centres, and Brufut and Banjulinding health centres.
According to Mr Jatta, his school places emphasis on both theory and practicals in providing basic nursing skills and other health and safety skills relating to nursing.
He said they have introduced specific courses to lead their students to the level of State Registered Nurses (SRN), State Enrolled Nurses (SEN) and Mid-wifery.
He added that one of their former students is doing further studies at the UTG.
“Let me inform you that we have six lecturers here at the school who are all Gambians, and one British national who is lecturing here voluntarily,” Jatta said.“These are all committed lecturers who know their job to their fingertips.”
