By Abdu Mbye
The Science and Technology Education Directorate (STED) under the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) with funding from ICESCO through UNESCO-NATCOM on Wednesday January 17th concluded a 6-day training for fifty teachers, held at the Gambia Senior Secondary School Computer Lab in Banjul.
The theme of the initiative is, “Curriculum Enrichment and Pedagogical Skills for Teachers through the Integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning on a Digital Platform”. The training was meant to promote technological advancement in the teaching and learning processes, through the digitalisation of the teaching system to improve accessible and quality education in the country.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Director of Science and Technology Education Directorate (STED), Mr. Bakary Ceesay thanked the facilitators and partcipants for their utmost devotion and commitment during the training.
“The education policy has preached for the digitalisation of the curriculum to make sure that The Gambia is in tune with other parts of the world. The world is moving towards technology. If you want to profile a country look at the teachers. Investing in teachers means investing in the country because these are the people nuturing and moulding our future elders, ”Ceesay remarked.
Dr. Babou Joof, the Principal Education Officer (PEO) at STED and coordinator of the programme, said the training would diversely enhance technological progress in the process of digitalising the teaching and learning system. He urged participants to use the opportunity to share the best skills with their fellow teachers in facilitating distance learning.
Mr. Modou Touray, Representing the Secretary General, NATCOM, stated that the training was premised on strengthening the capacity and resilience of The Gambian education system by promoting the use of ICT to improve teachers’ digital skills. He acknowledged the participants for the successful completion of the training, thanked ICESCO for funding and MoBSE for the implementation.
Mr. Abdoulie Njie, the Head of Department for ICT at the Gambia Senior Secondary School spoke on behalf of the Principal of the School while Ms. Adel A Mendy spoke on behalf of the participants. They both expressed gratitude to MoBSE, UNESCO-NATCOM and ICSECO for the training.
