Over 40 final year students at the Gambia College, on Thursday ended a four- day training on child rights, child protection and corporal punishment, organised by the Child Protection Alliance (CPA). The training was held at the Gambia College campus in Brikama.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Alieu Darboe, CPA Chairperson, advised the teachers to maintain steadfastness and to be committed towards the protection and promotion of child rights.

According to him, teachers are agents of change and role models, therefore, they are expected to spread the message and knowledge gained from this training to their students and others.

He finally advised them to inculcate discipline into the children they teach in schools.

In his keynote address, Madi Jatta, who represented Fatou Lamin Faye, Secretary of State for Basic and Secondary Education, said the government of The Gambia is highly committed to the cause of children, especially in the promotion and protection of child rights.

He described childhood as an important stage in every one’s life as it is an age of physical and mental growth.

Mr Jatta also advised teachers to stem down the teacher-student relationship, due to the nature of some indiscipline students.

He further advised the teachers to inculcate discipline into the children though a simple manner instead of using corporal punishments.

“We are cognisant of the fact that teachers and other caretakers often lack knowledge and information on non-violent methods of teaching,” he said.

For her part, Miss Isatou Ndow, Head of the School of Education at The Gambia College, who also represented the principal of the College, thanked the CPA for organising such a laudable training to upgrade teachers’ capacity and knowledge in the protection of children.

She said corporal punishment is a major challenge for teachers and expressed hope that the information gathered will be desiminated. She further advised teachers to respect children, noting that respect is reciprocal.

Mariama Jammeh, a participant, delivered the vote of thanks.