Basori community holds stakeholders dialogue to tackle rising youth dropout rates

The dialogue was held under the theme ‘Fostering Educational Resilience: A Community Approach to Reducing Youth Dropout Rates’. Key presentations were delivered by a representative of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency who spoke on the impact of drug abuse on youth and how substance use contributes to school dropout rates. A representative from the Regional Education Directorate Region Two East also outlined existing education challenges and proposed practical interventions for the community.

Community elders provided guidance and motivational messages, including educator and University of The Gambia lecturer Alhagie Babou, former National Assembly Member for Kombo East District Lamin F.M. Conta, the Alkalo of Basori Lamin Y. Jabang, VDC Chairperson Ebrima Ceesay, the Alkalo of Tubakuta and the Alkalo of Talokoto. Their collective message centred on unity, responsibility and the need for stronger collaboration to support young people.

The opening ceremony was chaired by advisory member of BYDA Yaya Sanneh who thanked all invited guests for attending and praised the youth association for its dedication to community development. He highlighted some of the association’s recent achievements including a successful tree-planting initiative and a large community cleansing exercise from Basori through Talokoto to the Tubakuta border along the Mandinaba to Jiboro highway. He said BYDA was created to drive practical action and positive change, and the stakeholder dialogue is another important effort to address dropout rates from English schools, Arabic schools, vocational institutions and technical centres. 

In his remarks, the Alkalo of Basori Lamin Y. Jabang thanked all invited guests and acknowledged their presence. He expressed appreciation to the organisers and extended a warm welcome to the Chief Guest of Honour, educator and UTG lecturer Alhagie Babou. He reaffirmed his support for initiatives that promote youth development and strengthen educational outcomes.

Village Development Committee Chairperson Ebrima Ceesay described the forum as a very important initiative aimed at addressing a serious challenge affecting the youth of Basori. He thanked BYDA for organising the dialogue and encouraged continuous cooperation among all stakeholders.

BYDA Vice Chairperson Lamin Manjang noted that Basori, one of the largest villages in Kombo East, has existed for 113 years. He said almost every village in Kombo East has a youth development association except Basori until the recent establishment of BYDA with support from the Kombo East District Youth Committee. He reaffirmed the belief that youth are the backbone of any nation and stressed that the high rate of dropouts in the village poses a threat to Basori’s future. He warned that many young people stop schooling between Grade Nine and Grade Ten without completing their education, adding that half education is dangerous. He said this dialogue is one of the association’s most significant initiatives and announced BYDA’s long-term - goal to establish a youth centre in Basori with a library and conference hall.

A representative of KEYCDA told participants that education is not limited to English or Arabic schooling but includes all forms of learning that improve individual lives. He said meaningful development begins with self-development and encouraged youth to engage in productive activities. He added that when young people are positively engaged, they are less likely to spend time in unproductive spaces such as ghettos. He reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to helping communities form youth groups and supporting them in their development work.

Chief Guest of Honour Alhagie Babou spoke extensively on the importance of education and the need for strong support systems for young people. He recalled that Basori established its first nursery school in 1990 where he served as the first teacher. He said that while the village once had very few university graduates, it now has many, which shows progress in educational advancement. He stressed the importance of core subjects such as English and Mathematics and urged students to take these areas seriously. He also encouraged teachers to strengthen their support for students to improve academic performance.

Mr Babou identified several factors contributing to rising dropout rates in Basori, including financial hardship, lack of parental support, child labour, insufficient sponsorship, low parental education levels, overpopulation, gender disparities in schooling and early marriage. He urged the community to work together to address these challenges. 

The dialogue concluded with a shared commitment from all participants to work collectively to strengthen youth education and reduce dropout rates. Community leaders, parents, educators and youth representatives all pledged to collaborate more closely to secure a better future for the young people of Basori and the wider Kombo East District.