UTG medical students threaten more protests

By Juldeh Njie The medical students of the University of The Gambia yesterday convened a press conference to highlight what they called a “setback” in their education, following the delay in the resumption of work by their Cuban lecturers. Kawsu Fatty, a year six medical student, said they are frustrated over the matter and have made many consultations with the relevant authorities to no avail. He complained that for three years running, the Cuban lecturers have been returning late from their annual holidays, which seriously affects their studies. “These delays affect medical education which accumulates with intensity and frustrations,” Fatty said adding that if the trend continues, the duration of their program will inevitably prolong. “We are going to continue protesting because we are affected and by extension the health system. As we speak the Cubans were supposed to leave on the 25th of November but until today, they have not left and come December 24 their new scheduled date of departure, we will show our dissatisfaction again by staging another protest,” Fatty said. Fatty added: “We have been engaging with them and they assured us that we will not get to this point but most of the times what they will tell us is that there is no finance to ensure that the Cubans leave on time. And this has been happening for years”. Ebrima Kalilu Manneh, also a medical student, said last year the Cubans stayed away for about 8 months which led to a lot of frustration. He explained: “As a result, we formed an ad hoc committee to consult with the necessary stakeholders and over the past months, a series of follow ups were made, both formal and informal, to ensure that the relevant authorities see to it that the problem is prevented but to our dismay nothing has changed.”]]>