The Gambia Teachers Union (GTU), last Friday, ended its annual summer extramural courses for teachers. Centred in three different localities, the training session was simultaneously held in Kanifing, Brikama and Pakalinding with the support of the Irish National Teachers Organisation.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Mr Essa Sowe, the deputy general secretary, GTU, disclosed that the hallmark of successful individuals is that they love learning, seek challenges, value effort and  persist in the face of obstacles. He noted that the absence of the above quality-oriented skills constitutes  a serious obstacle for any meaningful national development agenda.

According to him, teachers have been central in all progressive social gains and yet their efforts are hardly noticed. As a union, he said, they measure success by the progress of each teacher towards the achievement of his or her maximum potential. “We therefore work to stimulate the spirit of inquiry, the acquisition of knowledge and understanding and the thoughtful formulation of worthy goals, hence the introduction of the summer extramural scheme”, he said.

He went on to say that the challenges of providing the necessary human capital and skills requires huge investment on the part of government. But, he emphasised,  for education and training to be successful, it requires all partners and stakeholders to join hands and deliver what their communities and country need. “The task is enormous, but I am convinced that you are all up to it,” he told the gathering.

For his part, Alhaji Pa Amat Secka, the centre manager at Kanifing, also said that the extramural classes have boosted the confidence of teachers to register for private WASSCE. According to him, the session has created a conducive environment for them to interact and share their common experience within the broader spectrum of Gambia educational system.

In delivering her closing remarks, Rohey .A. Sillah, first vice-president GTU, revealed that the GTU extramural classes are an initiative of the GTU, geared towards upgrading the academic and professional standards of its members, as the ultimate goal is to improve the quality of teaching and education in general in the country.

She further reiterated that the GTU in its strive and drive for quality education will continue conducting such programmes in the decentralised form.

Mrs Antoinette Corr-Jack, general secretary, GTU, who delivered the closing statement at Pakalinding, said that “education is the key to everything” and “teachers are the key to education.” Therefore, she said, teacher’s development and support participates in the provision of quality education and it does not matter whether a school is well resourced or not the fact is that, without highly qualified, skilled and motivated teachers, the quality of learning and teaching will suffer.

According to her, if one analyses the performance of their schools and learners in the subjects of Math, Science and English,and the inequalities that persist among their various communities then it is clear that they will have to work very hard to realise the vision of quality education for all.  

She disclosed that teaching is a vital, unique and far reaching role, requiring high levels of individual knowledge skills, commitment, energy and enthusiasm.  “I want to take this opportunity to thank the Irish National Teachers Organisation for their sustained involvement and commitment to the education of our children. By investing in our teachers, you are making a very valuable contribution to our overall efforts in quality education delivery. The summer extra mural classes which you generously funded have transferred skills in a real way, giving new opportunities and confidence to hundreds of teachers whose value is not often recognised and appreciated,” she concluded.