The students of Ardingly College, Sussex England yesterday paid a courtesy call to The Point Newspaper at its office in

The students were led by the teachers Father Ian Colsou and Ms Judy Vatcher.

Speaking to this Reporter after their audience with the Managing Director of The Point Mr. Pap Saine who welcome them to the company, the visitors informed me of the purpose of their visit to The Gambia.

According to Father Ian, they came with 22 students between the ages of 16 and 17 years. He revealed that they have been coming to The Gambia for eight years now. He said that they would be staying in the country for ten days. During this time their students will be teaching science in Gambian schools. So far he said, they have been teaching at Katong and Old Jeshwang Lower Basic schools as well as at the St. Johns School for the Deaf.

For her part, Madam Judy acknowledged the welcome accorded to them by Gambian schools. “ We are really humbled by the kindness shown to us by students and their teachers,” she said.

“We are very excited, most of us have not been to Africa before, what we see on television about Africa is always negative but the story is completely different with what we have seen,” were the words of the students.

They described their trip as very interesting as they also learn new things from their Gambian counterparts. “We learn things like sign language, story telling and enjoy the hospitality of the Gambian people,” said one of the students. The students also noticed that their teaching methods in UK are different to what they have seen in The Gambia. “Students here are much more willing to learn,” said another student.

Ten out of the 22 student in the country visited The Point with their teachers. They are Chrishau Emmench, Chris Preston Bell, Charlie Dumeresque, Hugo Goddle, Tsmis Woodgate, Caittin Forbes, Lucy Coombs, Poppy Robathan, Luzern Chan and Millie Willeins.