#National News

Swallow set sight on TAKE-M national spelling bee title

Feb 10, 2021, 1:18 PM | Article By: Cherno Omar Bobb

Coordinator at The Swallow Centre for Emancipating Education in Manjai Kunda has spoke of her institution’s resolve to win this year’s TAKE-M Transformation Organisation’s national lower basic school spelling bee contest.

Suwaibatou Bah’s remarks came after Abubacarr Sambou, a student of her school finished as first runner-up in the 2020 competition held at Q-City.

Being her school’s first participation in the competition, Bah described Abubacarr’s success as very important for them.

The championship, she went on, exposes students to many areas and boost their self-confidence.

Abubacarr is among the outstanding students and earlier won his school’s competition before being identified to represent the said school at the national championship.

She highlighted that giving children quality education is key and therefore called on all and sundry to support the spelling the competition.

Bah described the spelling bee contest as very important for Gambian children, saying if Gambian children are exposed, in future they can do a lot.

She thanked TAKE-M Transformation Organisation particularly its CEO Mr. Tunde, adding that he is doing a lot for The Gambia.

Mrs. Bah indicated that they have an IT Department and for the past five years they have been doing their examination work and report cards from the Kubo (IT lab).

“We have a pilot project with Bakoteh and Albreda Lower Basic schools and also visited Njaba Kunda a month ago to also introduce the Kubo at their school where they will provide them (Njaba Kunda) with solar and a fully equipped IT lab.”  

However, she said their challenges include funding as 98% of their activities were being funded by Belgium.

“But due to covid-19, our funders are finding it difficult to raise funds as most of their funds were raised through gala dinners. We currently depend on our reserve to sustain the school,” she said.

Established in 2002, the school started as a nursery and now enrolls students up to grade 6.