FOROYAA Newspaper (Serrekunda)
16 April 2008
editorial
This coming week, the world will be commemorating the Global Week of Action, an annual event promoted by Global Campaign for Education. This year, the campaign is targeting politicians who actually or potentially wield power.
The Department of State for Basic Education has been promoting not only education that is accessible but one of quality.
A review of the report of the select committee of the National Assembly on the situation in 2005 would reveal that, though there is considerable increase in access, the conditions in the schools leave much to be desired.
Schools are overcrowded, qualified teachers are lacking, teachers are over burdened by the double shift or leave their schools to pursue their salaries delayed for months, toilet facilities are appalling, teaching aids are lacking and so on. The end result is low quality education.
A few examples would suffice.
The select committee was concerned with education that is accessible, of quality and relevant.
In terms of curriculum and teaching resources, the report revealed lack of adequate supply of textbooks for core subjects, teachers guides and other sources for teaching and learning; shortages of chalk and other materials; no supply of exercise books and registration books; lack of confidential record cards, etc.
In terms of infrastructure, we shall mention just a few: inadequate books in school libraries, those available are irrelevant, old, outdated and have little impact on reinforcing learning; no trained librarian. In some schools, libraries are kept in unused stores with no ventilation or proper furniture.
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