The secretary of state for Basic and Secondary Education, Fatou Lamin Faye, has underscored the invaluable role the United States Peace Corps is playing in the development endeavour of The Gambia.

She told a parked crowd of dignitaries who graced the swearing-in ceremony of twelve Peace Corps Volunteers, last Thursday, at the American Embassy, that if the Gambia government were to value Peace Corps programs in the country, it would cost it millions of dalasis. She noted that her department of state and its sister Department of State for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, acknowledge the contribution of the US government, through the Peace Corps program, towards their policy objectives.

According to SoS Faye, the volunteer program, since the inception of its operations in the country some forty years ago, has contributed immensely to the education sector of The Gambia. “As regards the ICT program,” she said, “in this world of rapid scientific and technological development, where no meaningful progress can be realised without the use of the ICT, the significance of the intervention of the Peace Corps cannot be over emphasised.” She went on to say that there was strong evidence to show the impact of the volunteers’ support in establishing computer science laboratories, with the provision of training packages for students, teachers and members of the local communities on computer skills.

Apart from the involvement of the Peace Corps volunteers in the area of ICT in the education sector, SoS Faye noted, they also were involved in the establishment of libraries in various schools, as well as the production of teaching and learning aids using local materials. This, she observed, does not only cut down on her department’s expenditure on the provision of resources to facilitate learning, but also equips teachers with knowledge and new skills.

The SoS went on: "Peace corps involvement in the education sector continues to help in addressing the growing needs for qualified teachers and relevant teaching and learning techniques, in the quest for quality and relevant education. We are also aware of the support of the peace corps at the level of the University of The Gambia (UTG), The Gambia Technical Training Institute (GTTI), as well as The Gambia College Extension Programme at Janjangbureh."  While reaffirming her department’s resolve to work hand in glove with the Peace Corps, SoS Faye noted that The Gambia government very much values their programmes for their strong commitment, decades of true partnership, and their immense support to the socio-economic development of the country.

For his part, Mr Mike McConnell, Peace Corps country director, recalled that the former US president, John F. Kennedy, had created the program with three goals, notably to help the people of interested countries in meeting their needs for trained men and women, to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the people served and to help promote better understanding of the other people on the part of Americans.
According to him, the Peace Corps is a non-political and independent NGO, with no hidden agenda but the aforementioned three goals set by its initiator.

"These goals have not changed in the 46 years since the Peace Corps was created. We are dependable partners and we go to destinations were we are invited and where there is real work to be done," Director McConnell said, noting that the twelve sworn-in volunteers would teach, train teachers and teach computer technology.

He then reminded the volunteers that they represent the goodness and generosity of their country and that as such, they should live up to expectations during their tenure of service in The Gambia.
Mr Barry L Wells, the US ambassador to The Gambia, who facilitated the oath of administration of the twelve volunteers, reminded them that they were bound to encounter some challenges, and called on them to commit themselves to the cause of peace.
Madam Yamai Secka-Jack, a senior officer at the Peace Corps Country office, moderated the occasion.