Pakalinding Upper Basic School (PUBS), last Thursday, held its  speech and prize giving ceremony at the school grounds in Pakalinding.

Speaking at the ceremony, Alhagie Baba Saidykhan, the Parent Teacher Association chairperson, outlined the importance of a  speech day.

Delivering the school report, Manding Ceesay, principal of the school, higlighted on the academic performance of the students.  “The 2006/07 grade 9 Gambia Basic Certificate Examination (GABECE) results were less than favourable.  The current grade 9 mock exams were not promising and Barrow Bojang report ed that, first term continuous assessment results were not encouraging.  The same report did not speak well of staff attendance and performance statistics” he said.

He added “parents too did not provide good solutions to the situation. They never provided necessary requirements such as dictionaries, brighter grammars, students’ companions and the like for their children to compete in the arena of academic competition. Parents are not also visiting the school to verify attendance and performance of their children, neither do they respond to the call by the school to enter into a payment plan for the settlement of school and computer fees” he complained.

Mr Ceesay then advised stakeholders to stop blaming each other and take concerted  measures that could turn the school around.

He then cited the various achievements of the school over the years. Pointing out attempts in bringing about structural and operational reforms in order to pave a common purpose and shape a common direction. “These really paid some devident. In the Regional Scholarship Pageant Competition for Lower River Region, involving nine Upper Basic Basic and Basic Cycle Levels, Pakalinding pulled out three out of five places competed.  All the three winners proceeded to the national level and two of them were lucky to be among the rest sponsored by President, Yahya Jammeh, up to university level” he said.

He added that the school also won the Giant National Trophy and cash prize of D6,00.00 for the Upper Basic and Basic Cycle Schools Athletic Sports competition, refurbishment of staff and computer rooms well decorated and fully furnished, creation of a student services office, a well organized student government elections and a recitation of the Holy Quran.  

“The school also benefited from a facelift of stone laying and decoration, construction of a monumental sign board in collaboration with the community, organized a tumultuous welcoming ceremony for our philanthropist guests, “Friends of Si-Kunda” who also donated computer sets and stationery materials to the school” he reported.

On the constraints of the school, Mr Ceesay pointed out the lack of school fence and serious water shortage which requires urgent attention by the authorities. “The school has attempted raising 30m of the fence and assistance is requested from all and sundry to continue. To improve water supply situation for this big school, a hand pump can be a useful intervention.  Classrooms too, are in short supply and the school lacks staff quarters and an assembly hall” he cried.

Mrs Antoinette Corr Jack, who was the guest speaker and new general secretary to Gambia Teachers’ Union (GTU), spoke on the topic “the role of parents in raising Quality/Performance in schools” and emphasized on parental involvement, support and guidance which is essential to the attainment of quality education for the children.  

She described education as the ‘most powerful weapon one can use to change the world’.

At the end of the ceremony, over 300 prizes were distributed among hardworking students, teachers, parents and sponsors.  

Presided over by Governor Momodou Soma Jobe of Lower River Region, Momodou S. Touray, Deputy regional education director, Mrs Majula Joof, vice chairperson of the Mansakonko Area Council, representative of the chief, major sponsors, special guests, parents, staff and students.