This in essence shows the role of education in any country’s socio-economic development.
Developed or rich countries were able to achievement their greatness, thanks to the massive investment they’ve done in the area of education. Suffice it to state here that any country that invests more in the education of its citizen certainly has laid a solid foundation for its younger generation. Education should not be taken for granted. And governments must show commitment to its development.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced many learning institutions across the globe out of operations. Now that the country’s education ministry is about to re-opens schools, how ready is the government in terms of committing funds and timely response?
As rightly stated by the deputy general secretary of The Gambia Teachers Union a potential academic crisis is looming in The Gambia if no action is taken, as pupils continue to wander and roam in street corners.
He further claimed that there is no indication of government’s seriousness to commit funds to ensure timely response when schools reopen as required.
Government must show commitment to ensure that when schools reopen all the necessary tools are available in terms of strategies and plans. The government must assume its responsibility and be on the steering wheel if the country is to make any gainful head in its education sector under this condition.
We thus, salute the government for its interventions in terms of subsidies and stimulus packages to our hardworking teachers. However, giving the fact that over 50% of the country’s schools are private owned and apparently running out of business, did government provide or create any educational subsidy to enable these private schools pay their teachers; most of whom have been seriously affected?
This, we believe government should consider their plights since majority are family heads and hey have many other responsibilities.
Education is the key to any developed society. With it, one is able to sift and weigh evidence, to discern the true from the false, the real from the unreal and the facts from the fiction.
"Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence."
Abigail Adams