By Abdou Mbye
The Communication Unit under the Science and Technology Education Directorate (STED) of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), on Friday, 21 October, 2022 concluded a tripartite stakeholders’ engagement across six regional education directorates in the country to gauge the perception and concerns of the people in the country’s educational drive.
Known as the National Education Bantaba ( NEB 2022) the outreach activity was organised by the Ministry to ensure dialogue with various education stakeholders on the sector’s programmes and activities, factoring SMC chairpersons, students, cluster monitors, mothers’ clubs and regional education staff. It was also meant to discuss current realities, especially the recent 2022 WASSCE/GABECE Results, curriculum review process, disciplinary issues , role of parents, students, and teachers in education; sexual harassment among others.
This activity availed the unit the opportunity to gather relevant information from community-based actors on current and emerging issues hindering the advancement of education in the country and to proffer solutions to setbacks.
Participants urged for TVET-oriented curriculum at basic education level, noting that it would not only curb unemployment but also provide the human capital needs of the country.
Addressing the participants, the Principal Educational Officer (PEO) for Region Five South Mr Mod Tala Ceesay explained that the curriculum inherited from the colonial masters was based on three domains: Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. He said Gambians realised that this was not enough and the curriculum was changed. “It is in the same view that we are now developing a curriculum that would suit the needs and aspirations of the people,” he added.
Mr Ceesay therefore applauded the team for the proactive engagement with stakeholders at the grassroots level.
