Sheikh Tijan Ceesay, a student of Buckinkhaon Pheuma Academy, was on 13 April 2016 declared winner of the second edition of TAKE-M Transformation Organisation-organised national spelling bee championship.
At the final held at Yundum Barracks ground, Mahmood Rashid, a student from Notre Dame in Soma, came out second position, and Jerrela Jackson of Emmanuel Mission finished third position.
The competition was meant to promote the importance of reading, comprehension, writing and spelling in education and it was supported by Enterprise Life, Global Properties, Unique Solutions and RLG.
Tunde Muyi Ogundimu, CEO of TAKE-M Transformation, speaking on the occasion, said the spelling bee is a way of promoting English language as an indispensable tool of communication.
He pointed out that the competition is focused on primary school students.
WO1 Tijan Bah, headmaster of Yundum Barracks Nursery and Lower Basic School, in his remarks, gave a brief history of the school.
The school was established in 2008 as a result of growing accidents involving children from the barracks who were going out to attend schools outside the environs of the barracks.
“In order to upgrade the teachers of the school in the drive to achieve excellence, a good number of the teachers have been sent to the Gambia College,” he said.
WO1 Alieu Jasseh, principal of Yundum Barracks Upper Basic School, said at the school, their focus is to ensure that students receive an uninterrupted education from nursery to senior secondary school level.
He said they are “soldiers with a difference” and will continue to uphold the idea of closely working with civilians to contribute to the socio-economic development of the nation.
WO1 Jasseh said due to the growing number of the student population, they need support of more classroom blocks.
Omar Jatta, regional director for Region 2, expressed appreciation to TAKE-M Transformation Organisation for complementing the government’s efforts in the drive to achieve quality education.
He said the development of education in a nation has a direct bearing on the development of that country.
Mr Jatta said the spelling bee competition is vital and in line with the country’s education policy.
Lieutenant Augustus Mendy, CEO of GAF Education Unit (Yundum Barracks), said it is their duty to prepare youth in the most appropriate way to be able to surmount the challenges ahead.
Madam Isatou Ndow, Head of Education at the Gambia College, said the spelling bee competition needs to be supported in every way possible for the growth of the organisation.