By Juldeh Njie
The Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Claudiana Cole, has vowed to improve the conditions in lower basic schools. She said a conducive learning environment is key to achieving quality education.
“It is our sincere intention to make sure that every classroom is conducive. We are not comfortable with it [the condition of classrooms]. We would to our best to try to improve the situation. We promise because that is our responsibility,” she said.
Madam Cole was responding to NAMs during the First Ordinary Session of the National Assembly in the 2019 legislative year yesterday.
She said they understand that a lot of schools are without any furniture in their classrooms.
“It is never our joy to see children sitting on the floor. We are never pleased with such conditions but as I said resources are not enough and where they exist, we will make sure every school, every classroom in this country is conducive enough for the children to learn.”
She said there is a need to review curriculum of Gambian schools and that her ministry is working towards that.
“The curriculum review is one step to making sure that the quality is enhanced. We are also building the capacities of teachers to ensure that they are provided with the necessary skills and competencies to be able to provide a quality teaching for the children,” she added.
Madam Cole told lawmakers that they will provide the necessary teaching and learning materials in schools to enhance and increase quality.
“Quality for us at the moment is our greatest concern and we are doing all that we can to make sure that we improve in that area. We will leave no stone unturned and we are doing all we can to make sure that quality is further improved and enhanced,” she concludes.
