The Education for All Campaign Network Regional Chapter based in Region One celebrated the Global Week of Action on Education on Thursday 17th of July, 2008 at Tallinding School. The occasion attracted parents, teachers, students, politicians and community leaders.
In his introductory remarks, the chairperson of the occasion, Mr. Mbye Njie, spoke of the importance of the Millennium Development Goals, especially those relating to education.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Adelaide Sosseh said that Global Week of Action is celebrated each year to call attention to the millions of children who are missing out on education. Since 2000, the Education for All Campaign Network The Gambia has joined the Global Campaign on Education, the Africa Campaign Network on Education for All and other Networks and Coalitions around the world to celebrate the event. GWA is a major social mobilisation event to remind world leaders of the promises made in Dakar 2000 to provide quality education by 2015. Madam Sosseh thanked the Government of The Gambia for their work in creating an enabling environment and their immense contribution in developing accessible and relevant education by 2015.
She further called for a unified action by all stakeholders to ensure that all citizens - boys and girls, men and women - have access to education of good quality, indicating that this is important if poverty is to be eradicated and if people have to live lives of dignity and peace.
Deputising for the chairperson of Region One Education for All Chapter, Madam Zono Jammeh expressed joy and happiness at hosting the event. She said that education is a basic human right. She disclosed that her chapter has been able to sponsor about 30 needy students across the region. The theme for GWA 2008 is "Politicians Back to School" and the message is "Quality Education for All: End Exclusion now." 'The purpose of this is to bring politicians back to school so that they see at first hand for themselves what is happening in schools and to take measures to address these problems' she said.
Mr. Nabany Darboe, representing the Director of Basic and Secondary Education in Region One, highlighted his department's preparedness and willingness to be associated with the delivery of good quality education. He tasked both the network and local chapter with continuing the good work they are doing.
Binta Badjie, a student from St John's for Deaf, asked everyone to support the disabled and never to discriminate against or exclude them. "There is enough for everyone's need, but not for everyone's greed," she said.
Mr. Yusapha Sanyang, Deputy Mayor of KMC, and Awa Sillah Njie, a ward counsellor at BCC, added their calls for quality and accessible education by 2015.
Dramas and songs were performed by school students from Tallinding Proper Lower Basic School and Wesley Lower Basic School in Banjul.
