Ann Therese Ndong-Jatta, the UNESCO regional director for Education in Africa (BREDA), yesterday called on the speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Fatoumatta Jahumpa-Ceesay at her office at the Assembly chambers in Banjul.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ann Therese Ndong-Jatta congratulated Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay on her appointment. She also saluted her for her immense efforts towards women advancement. According to her, she was at the Assembly to inform the speaker of UNESCO’s readiness to collaborate with parliamentarians as 2015 approaches, so as to achieve the targeted education goals. For her, parliamentarians have a key role to play in the education, culture and other sectors. “The role of parliamentarians in the education sector cannot be underscored. You are the powers behind what is finally allocated to the education sector especially during budgetary allocation,” she said. According to her, the only answer to any development is to invest in the human resource base, particularly education.

She confirmed that The Gambia is one of the countries in the world that has achieved the ‘parity’(equality between men and women) set objectives. On budgetary allocations for the education sector, she urged the Assembly to always support the increment and expressed hope that in the next forum of parliamentarians, stakeholders will ensure that the decisions taken are implemented for the interest of Africa.

Ndong-Jatta then urged parliamentarians to domesticate the Arusa Declaration and the Convention on the Discrimination of Women in education, which are in the pipeline and are geared towards the advancement of education in the sub-region. Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, Majority leader and NAM for Serrekunda East also highlighted the necessity for Assembly-UNESCO collaboration. According to him, the cornerstone of any development is education. He stated that as representatives of the people, they will do all they can to make sure that education gets a good budgetary allocation. Hon. Momodou Sanneh, Minority leader and NAM for Kiang West expressed hope that the pending protocols stated, will be laid before members for ratification and further expressed their full support of UNESCO.

Hon. Sulayman Joof, NAM for Serrekunda East and chairperson of the Assembly Education Select Committee hailed the efforts of the UNESCO regional director towards education in not only The Gambia, but the sub-region as a whole. He described the Assembly Education Select Committee as one of the most vibrant committees noting that they were able to conclude three nationwide tours of schools which had great impact. He said that the committee will continue to collaborate with UNESCO, that recommendations made will be implemented and they will always fight for high budgetary allocation for the sector.

Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay saluted Ndong-Jatta for her dedication, commitment and efforts towards the promotion of education in The Gambia. She admitted that the Assembly Education Select Committee is one of the most vibrant committees of the Assembly but noted the lack of support from international bodies.  She then expressed hope that their collaboration with UNESCO will yield dividend. “The collaboration will not only help the Assembly to ratify the protocols but members will also sell the work of UNESCO especially in education. It will therefore encourage people to send their children to schools,” she said.

The Gambia, FJC noted, is on the right track as President Jammeh has boosted the sector in all aspects and his slogan of the ‘sky is the limit’ is manifested in many ways. She then expressed their readiness to work with UNESCO. In a similar engagement, Speaker Jahumpa-Ceesay also received the Association for Promoting Girls and Women Advancement (APGWA), led by Binta Jammeh-Sidibeh, the executive director. They were in the speaker’s office to pay their respect to her for her immense role towards the advancement of women and girls.