Jamisa Upper Basic School in Brikama and St Edward Comprehensive Secondary School, Language College and Sixth Form Centre in Romford, United Kingdom, last Wednesday signed a new twining accord. The occasion was punctuated by a colourful ceremony held at the Jamisa Upper Basic School premises in Brikama.

In the new partnership, both schools have agreed to endeavour the future development of the partnership and advise each other whenever necessary.

However, the twining accord, amongst other things, is meant to share common knowledge in various fields of interest ranging from IT, staff exchange visits and promote mutual understanding so as to enrich  the cultural  heritage  between the students of the two schools.

Delivering her welcoming statement, Mamie Njie, Chairperson Parent Teachers Association (PTA) said this twining accord will further cement the bilateral relationship that exists between the schools. She also pointed out that since its establishment, some seven years ago, the school has been very much instrumental in promoting academic excellence."The school performs during the annual Gambia Basic Secondary School Leaving Examination, as majority of our students passed with good grades. However, in the recent years, the school is being confronted with some constraints which include inadequate water supply, electricity and lack of enough teaching and learning materials," she said.

Batuwo Jaiteh, Principal of the school expressed gratitude to the pioneers of the twining accord."We are brought together by mutual an common understanding. However, it is said that a relationship that was based on mutual understanding is more likely to last that those built on dependency. I think the creation of a partnership is a step in the right direction especially with the  Government new education policy  "Education For All" campaign," he said.

Mr Jaiteh then revealed that the school has recently witnessed rapid improvement both in terms of population and academic excellence.

Giving an historical overview, he said:"The school started with few students. But today we can be proud of seeing the number of pupils going crescendo (1170).  Apart from mass enrolment, another area the school is known for is its good academic results which still remain a guiding tool and a fact to be reckoned within the whole region," he said.

He lauded their British counterparts for travelling all the way from UK to make sure that the partnership agreement will be materialized in a short period. ‘I wish to thank you so much and look forward to more fruitful partnership,’’ he declared solemnly.

For her part, Annie Bryden, Director of Language College St Edward School in the UK, expressed gratitude to the entire management of Jamisa Upper Basic School for the tumultuous welcome.

According to her, they are working with an organisation called African Development Association for Progress (ADAPT),which is a UK based charity organisation helping African schools. As a result, she lauded persons like Jessi Konadu-the Chief Executive Officer of this UK charity organisation and Olayeye and Amma Ukackuku for all their efforts. "Our children are our future and I think if we inculcate love and tolerance in them they will be able to get mutual understanding. The world is being a smaller place but a becoming a difficult  one," she said.

She commended Mr Becha, a senior master who according to her has been very instrumental in the signing of the twining accord.

Linsley Poultry, also from the UK, expressed similar sentiments. "I want to thank the school authorities and look forward to more fruitful partnership in the near future," she added.

Siaka Becha, a senior master and veritable initiator of the project, indicated that he started corresponding with these people a year ago, adding that it was all made possible. He commended Jessi Konadou for making sure that the twinning accord becomes a reality.

The vote of thanks was delivered by Sulayman Sanno,, head boy of  the school.The ceremony was attended by principals of neighbouring schools community elders, students was characterised by drama and cultural display by students of the school.