Nine Gambian students who are to pursue undergraduate degree programme in agriculture in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, last Wednesday evening, left Banjul for Caracas to join other Gambian students who earlier left the country to pursue similar programme in various fields of studies.

Accompanied by the deputy permanent secretary1 at the Office of the President and coordinator of the Venezuelan International Scholarship Fund, Ebrima Sama Corr, the students are the last batch of Gambian students selected to pursue higher education in the South American country. Family members, relatives, friends and officials of the Venezuelan diplomacy in The Gambia were at the Banjul International Airport to see off the students to Caracas.

Speaking to journalists shortly before their departure, deputy permanent secretary Corr said the move is the initiative of the president, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh and his Venezuelan counterpart, His Excellency Hugo Chavez. He told journalists that the students are part of the 77 students who are currently pursuing studies in different disciplines of education for the 2009/2010 academic year. He recalled that last year they sent 64 Gambian students to pursue similar programme.

"Earlier in April this year, we send 34 medical students to Venezuela. In September this year, we also sent 42 students in various disciplines such as civil engineering, science and technology, computer science, sports among others," revealed DPS Corr. He then confirmed that these nine students are the last batch of the package for 2009/2010 academic year.DPS Corr then expressed hope that the students will find it easy to pursue their education, revealing that all of them undertook Spanish language course last year.

The next intake of the Gambian students to pursue higher education in Venezuela, according to Corr, will depend on the outcome of the Joint Commission of the two countries in the near future. The Venezuelan ambassador to The Gambia, Her Excellency Lourdes Pirez Martinez,, said this educational development between her country and The Gambia falls within the framework of the South-South corporation.

The scholarship package of the agricultural students, according to the Venezuelan chief diplomat, is in line with President Jammeh's back-to-the-land initiative, which she said is also in line with President Chavez's food security policy in Venezuelan. She indicated that The Gambia and Venezuela are working very closely to strengthen and improve the existing bilateral cooperation.

Ambassador Martinez described the development as very important noting that the knowledge gained after the completion of their studies will go a long way in the national development crusade of The Gambia. This educational programme, she went on, will also avail the opportunity for inter-exchange of knowledge between the two countries.

The Venezuelan ambassador assured the expansion of President Chavez's policy of cooperation for Africa in the future. She revealed that The Gambia has the larger participation in most of their cooperations and expressed hope that it will be deepened to cater more beneficial programmes in the near future.