The headmaster of Serrekunda Lower Basic School has said that the requirement stated by the department of state for Education in the retrenchment of unqualified teachers is a game of fair play.

John Ndow, who served the school for over 7 years, and lost four teachers during the retrenchment process noted that teachers with overwhelming experience should be reconsidered. He argued that experienced teachers in some instances, perform better than some mere qualified teachers.

Mr Ndow made this revelation in an exclusive interview with the Daily Observer at his school in Serrekunda. Speaking about  quality education, Mr Ndow said “If Gambia should attain quality education, the requirement stated by the Ministry is one of the instruments to be harnessed. “Despite numerous incentives in the field of teaching, such as hardship allowances, majority of the Gambian youths do not want  to be posted in the provinces. Some of them are even with the belife that teaching is a profession that earns no promotion” he said.

Another veteran headteacher, Kebba Jobe of Bakau Lower Basic School, expounded on the pay scale of the unqualified teachers noting that it should be reasonably handsome to attract many of those with requirements stated by the department of state for Education to come on board and teach.

According to him, many youths do not  like the teaching profession as they believe that there is no motivation. “Although the Gambia College cannot accommodate the increasing population of applicants, if the pay scale is handsome for unqualified teachers, many will join the field”, Mr Jobe stressed.