Upon realisation of the fact that capacity is lacking both in terms of  numbers and expertise in professions which are cardinal to socio-economic development, the Gambia Ports Authority on Tuesday 3rd June awarded fifteen (15) scholarships amounting to the tune of D328,000 to fifteen science students of the University of The Gambia.

The scholarships, according to a press release from the Gambia Ports Authority, will serve as a continuation of intervention measures for the development of teaching capacity, assistance towards the upgrading of science laboratories, special prices and scholarships awards for performing science students and so on, while maintaining a long term strategy for the establishment of a science academy.

“Development theorists all over the world have agreed that among the factor of production, man is the only resource that can actually grow and improve with the right training and incentives. It is therefore hardly surprising that developed and developing countries alike rely heavily on their human resource base in sectors which are critical for sustainable development,” the release added.

To this end, the release stated, the Gambia Ports Authority in collaboration with the Department of State for Basic and Secondary education, among other stake holders, launched the Operation Promote Excellence in the Sciences (OPES) in 2006 which aimed at capacity building in the technical profession and students with science backgrounds.

“This strategy will ensure that the local market could be relied upon to supply adequate expertise in fields such as Aeronautics, electrical, electronic, civil and mechanical engineering as well as the medical profession,” the release stated.

The following students benefited from the scholarship package; Isatou Ceesay, Mama Jarju, Diana J Sambu, Mustapha Ceesay, Omar Darboe, Lamarana Jallow, Mariatou Colley, Baboucarr Ndong, Isatou J. Darboe, Fatou Joof , Bakary Samateh, Omar Bah, Mohammed Janneh, Rachel Njie, Abdou Kadri Drammeh.
Meanwhile, the GPA urges all stakeholders from parents, teachers, students, government and private institutions to collectively strive and ensure that The Gambia possesses adequately qualified technicians in the sciences curricula who may be able to complement government’s infrastructure development programme as contained in Vision 2020.

The Authority also wishes to remind awardees that continued sponsorship from the OPES programme is purely based on merit and very high standard of discipline. “These students should role models for other students to emulate. Our policy is based on equal opportunities with all students on board,” the release concluded.