Sheikh Hamdan holds graduation ceremony

Sheikh Hamdan Senior Secondary School over the weekend held their graduation ceremony at the school's ground in Yundum.

In his welcome speech, the Vice-Principal, Mr. Buba Ceesay said the day marked yet another milestone in the annals of Sheikh Hamdan Senior Secondary School, noting that the school has been producing and will continue to produce graduates and well-cultured intellectuals for this great nation.

He revealed that the school was established in 1999, with only two classrooms and 83 students.

"Today, we are proud to say that the school has three streams of science, commerce and arts with a total enrolment of 287 brilliant and well-nurtured girls from all parts of the country," Ceesay said.

Vice-Principal Ceesay stated that Sheikh Hamdan is a school that is opportune to have among others, 80 percent of its teaching staff as graduates and well-seasoned in their areas of study.

"We in Sheikh Hamdan Senior Secondary School want all children to have the opportunity to cultivate their talents, develop their individuals, become good wives and mothers, care for other people, be responsible, patriotic and be steadfast in their religion," he added.

For his part, the Principal of the school, Mr. Muhammed Lamin Ceesay underscored the significant roles of women in today's society, noting that there is ever- increasing need for promoting girls education, which he added, propels a vibrant society and creates mutual understanding and co-operation that ultimately sustains a family.

He noted that "the well–being of a family is the well- being of a society, the well-being of a society is the well-being of a state and nation."

"To help achieve these dreams, Munazamat Al- Dawa-Al- Islamia deemed it useful to invest in the education sector in general and girls education, in particular, which is in line with government's school mapping exercise," he stated.

He said this emphasises the need for bringing educational institution at the door step of communities in their localities. "This is why Sheikh Hamdan Senior Secondary School for girls was established in 1999 by the mission, and subsequently inaugurated in the 2000/2001 academic year," he said, adding that it seeks to empower girls' education in The Gambia.

He pointed out that since its inception, the school has been presenting candidates for the West African Senior Certificate Examination for the past three years, noting that there has been significant improvement in terms of students' academic performance, with most of them gaining entry requirement to the university. 

He also went on to highlight some of the constraints confronting the school, which he stated, include the construction of a classroom block, the need for a multipurpose centre, library, effective laboratory and stable power supply. He used the occasion to appeal to the school proprietors, philanthropists, individuals and other key players in the development of education in this country to come to their aid.

He also appealed to the stakeholders in their catchments areas to take ownership of the school.

Mr. Ceesay finally expressed his profound gratitude and appreciation to President Jammeh for empowering girls' education through the PEGEP project, their regional office Director Munazamat Al-Dawa- Al-Islmia; their major sponsors: His Royal Highness Sheilkh Hamdan Bun Rashid foundation, and the Alkalo and the entire community of New Yundum for providing land to the school.