Fatou Lamin Faye, secretary of state for Basic and Secondary Education, has revealed that her department of state is working with The Gambia Secretariat for Arabic-Islamic Education (GSAIE) to provide support to Madarassas (Arabic schools) that have met the set criteria for such support.

SoS Faye made these remarks on Monday at the National Assembly, during the question and answer session on development in the various departments. She was responding to a question posed to her by Bora B Mass, member for Kiang East. And in response to a question from Pa Jallow, member for Niamina East, SoS Faye said that her department of state has no plans to construct any new buildings in the current year for Niamina Senior Secondary School in Jarreng, but was quick to note that the provision of buildings for new senior secondary schools like the one in Niamina is part of their four year medium term plan, 2008—2011.