By Aja Beyai
The Gambia College Class of 2004, in collaboration with the Gambia College Academic Staff Association (GCASA) and the Daan Wa Group from Melbourne, Australia, hosted a symposium on December 28, 2024. The symposium’s theme was “The Advancement of Gambian Society Through Highly Trained Teachers.”
It emphasized ongoing professional development for teachers and sought to acknowledge the contributions of alumni members to national progress.
In his welcome address, the Principal of the Gambia College, Mr. Abubacarr Jallow, expressed gratitude to the Class of 2004 for setting a precedent that he believes will inspire other alumni to follow suit. He acknowledged the significant role the Gambia College has played in shaping the lives of its alumni.
Prof. Pierre Gomez, the Honorable Minister of Higher Education, Research Science and Technology, spoke on “The Future of The Gambia College: Adapting Education Strategies to Align with the Needs of our People and Country.”
He highlighted the effects of rapid global changes, technological advancements, and economic crises on Gambian society and emphasized the need for educational reforms. The Minister shared his ambition to bridge the urban-rural divide for inclusive education, underscoring the urgent need for teachers ‘ professional development.
He announced plans to transform the Gambia College School of Education into a full-fledged university of education to enhance specialization and professionalization.
Prof. Gomez concluded that teacher education is vital for national development, with the new curriculum focusing on practical skills, critical thinking, and technological literacy, asserting, “We cannot fail as a nation.”
Hon. Halifa Sallah spoke on the symposium’s central theme: “The Advancement of the Gambian Society, Anchored on Highly Trained Teachers.”
Honourable Sallah stated that national values are key to education. “Human beings are doing beings; therefore, education and learning must go hand in hand. However, learning is not education but rather a tool to expose educators to nature and society.”
Dr. Abibatou Drammeh, the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, emphasized the importance of research and publications in academia.
“Research must be an area that should educate people within the academic community and the country at large,” she stated.
She added that research is a vital ingredient for nation-building, and therefore, academics should strive to make their research findings known and publish in peer-reviewed journals if they want to remain relevant in the academic field.
Mr. Alkali Dibba, Peace Network Representative in the United States of America, talked about ” Self-Determination and Community Engagement: Strengthening the Role of the Individual and Local Communities in Shaping Educational Development in the Gambia.”
“The Peace Network Representative argued that self-determination has both positive and negative relationships on education development in the Gambia. Adopting foreign curricula, educational policies, and teaching methodology could be beneficial, especially when such have roots in norms and values that are similar to the Gambia norms and values.” He said.
Mr Alkali stressed the need to enforce an educational curriculum, education practices and policies, and teaching methodology that reflects the true Gambian Identity, norms, values, culture, tradition, and societal worldview.
Mr. Dibba advocated for educational policies that empower teachers to implement strategies tailored to individual learners’ needs. He emphasized the importance of an educational system that fosters deep independent thinking and coherent decision-making, allowing new knowledge to be built on cognitive content.
He emphasized the need for an ideal Gambian curriculum incorporating local content, indigenous knowledge, local languages, and practices.
He advocated for community involvement in education to strengthen ongoing reforms and recommended forming partnerships among key stakeholders, including parents, educators, and the local community, to enhance students’ academic success.
Additionally, he highlighted the importance of traditional leaders, local government officials, and activists in shaping a better educational future for The Gambia, suggesting that their inclusion in national educational goals and policies would benefit the overall system.
Mr Kujabi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Gambia Teachers Union, Cooperative Credit Union( GTUCCU), emphasized that teachers must be empowered to ensure freedom and a settled mind for productivity.
