The SBEC International School, in Bijilo village Western Region, has organized a literacy learning week, which got underway last Monday. The week aims to help people increase their knowledge with a special emphasis on reading and writing.

In his welcoming remarks, the PRO of SBEC International School Mr Lewis Brown said the importance of literacy in learning to grow cannot be over emphasized. He added that the ability to read and write helps us to keep records. According to Mr Brown we read and write to know how life is and, consequently, children in his school will benefit greatly from the tutelage they are receiving there.

The PRO went on to explain that in 2001 the school was officially opened by President Jammeh and is now in its sixth year of operation. The school consists of both nursery primary and high school but the high school stops at form one.

Figures disclosed by Mr Browne show a school population of about six hundred pupils and thirty members of staff. Both French and English are taught at the school.
For his part Mr Bolong Landing Sonko said that SBEC International School remains one of the most important institutions involved in promoting literacy and knowledge in general.

He continued saying that while our education systems continue to receive a substantial portion of government and donor funds there still remains much work to be done. In conclusion Mr Sonko said that it is peoples responsibility as Gambians, and Africans, to address our development needs and priorities successfully. He expressed the view that our present predicament is the result of our inability to take full advantage of the large body of knowledge already in the marketplace.