The principal of Armitage Secondary School, Ebrima Joof, has revealed that the Board of Governors of his school administration have approved the increment of the boarding fee from D300 to D500 per student in each term with effect from September 2008. Principal Joof added that the increment took effect as a result of the global food crises.

In an interview with the Daily Observer recently, Mr Joof pointed out that feeding is one of their greatest challenges as the current number of boarders has increased to six hundred students.

According to him, the boarding students are provided with three meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) daily.  He said with the increase in the cost of living coupled with the small amount of fees students pay, the school administration finds it difficult to feed students and at the same time solve certain administrative matters.

“Like any other senior secondary school, Armitage heavily depends on fees collected from students, which is very small compared to sister schools in the Greater Banjul Area and apart from the fees, the school also receives subvention from the government, which is normally used to pay staff salaries.”, he revealed.

He revealed that another source of funding is the support they get from individuals, philanthropists and organisations, which is not a regular source.

“Even with the little fees we charge, the majority of the students still find it difficult to pay,” he observed. He finally commended President Jammeh for giving the school rice, a mini-bus and cash for feeding and urged other philanthropists to emulate President Jammeh’s benevolent gesture.