The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), Louis Moses Mendy, has described National Trainers as critical to the successful implementation of The Gambia's Foundational Learning (FL) Programme, as the country prepares for the nationwide rollout of the ambitious education reform initiative.
Mr Mendy made the remarks during a working visit to the National Training of Trainers (ToT) Centre at Soma Upper Basic School in the Lower River Region, where a six-day intensive training programme on foundational literacy is currently underway.
Upon arrival, the Permanent Secretary was welcomed by the Head of the In-Service Training (INSET) Unit, Awa Saho-Jallow, alongside members of the coordinating team comprising representatives from INSET, Learning Mastermind and Effective Intervention. The team briefed him on the progress of the training, key achievements recorded and emerging challenges.
As part of the visit, Mr Mendy toured classrooms to observe ongoing training sessions and engaged with co-trainers and participants representing the country's seven national language groups: Mandinka, Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Soninke, Sereer and Manjaku. He also visited sessions involving participants in special needs education and sign language instruction.
Speaking with trainers involved in special needs education, the Permanent Secretary reaffirmed the Ministry's commitment to inclusive education, stressing that every child, including those with special educational needs, deserves access to quality learning opportunities.
The visit culminated in a face-to-face engagement with participants, trainers and members of the coordinating team.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Habibatou Drammeh, Mr Mendy described the Foundational Learning Programme as a bold and transformative structured pedagogy reform aimed at improving early-grade learning outcomes across the country.
He explained that the adoption of seven national languages as mediums of instruction is a deliberate, evidence-based strategy designed to help children develop stronger reading, writing and comprehension skills in languages they understand best.
According to him, National Trainers are at the heart of the reform, noting that the programme's success will largely depend on their competence, commitment and adherence to the prescribed teaching methodologies during cascade training sessions across the country's eight education regions.
He therefore called on the trainers to demonstrate patriotism, professionalism and dedication to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of the programme nationwide.
"This is not just another training programme. It is a call to national duty. You carry the responsibility for shaping the future literacy of our children," Mr Mendy told participants.
The National Training of Trainers programme is being organised by the Directorate of In-Service Training and Lifelong Learning (DITaLL), through its INSET Unit, in partnership with LMAchieveBetter. It forms part of MoBSE's final preparations ahead of the nationwide rollout of the Foundational Learning Programme.
Participants welcomed the Permanent Secretary's visit, describing it as a significant morale boost that reaffirmed the Ministry's leadership, support and commitment to improving the quality of education across The Gambia.
