The Gambia Organisation for the Visually Impaired (Govi), on Monday, launched its Pre-school for Blind and Low Vision Children programme, at the GOVI Resource Centre in Kanifing.

Speaking at the launch, Ramou Rilley, who deputised for the Secretary of State for Secondary and Basic Education, said the Pre-school marks another important milestone in the development of education for the blind in The Gambia. 

Ms Rilley said the organisation regularly reviews its challenges to attain its objective for every needy child to access education as a basic human right. According to her, it was this determination that  enabled GOVI to start the Pre-school in 2006, as a means to give infants and youngsters an early start in education.

She disclosed that the Pre-school education started in October 2006, with 13 pupils, comprising seven girls and six boys, with funding from Commonwealth Education Fund (CEF), amounting to D300,000.

“The CEF project will phase out in June 2008 and considering the high demand and expenditure for education, the DoSBSE will explore other funding avenues to continue the good work”, she stated.

According to her, DoSBSE is appreciative of the donor support which makes it possible for them to fulfil their responsibilities to the blind and low vision children, through the current Fast Tract Initiative (FTI) project that has over the years been supportive to the provision of special educational needs.

Nyakassi Jarju, Coordinator of the Commonwealth Education Fund in The Gambia, disclosed that their goal, is to enable all Commonwealth children to have free access to good quality primary education by 2015, especially vulnerable children with special needs, among other targets.

Mr Jarju said it is part of their commitment to keep these children from idling and begging in the streets.

Sarjo Bajinka, Head Teacher of the school, called on individuals, parastatals, organisations, and NGOs to invest in this noble cause.

“To give education services to even a blind child is not an easy task, let alone a group of children of this magnitude,” she stressed.
Several other personalities spoke at the ceremony.