16 final-year students and their lecturer from the Mary Immaculate College in Ireland Monday planted trees at The Gambia Teachers' Union (GTU) premises and some schools.

Speaking on the occasion, the General Secretary of The Gambia Teachers' Union, Antoinette Corr-Jack, described the students and their lecturer as guests of the GTU. Upon arrival in The country, she said, they were posted to six schools in the Greater Banjul Area on teaching practice. She explained that in addition to the GTU premises, the visitors also planted trees at some special schools namely, St John's school for the Deaf, Methodist and GOVI. "They also donated some learning materials to these schools and the schools they were posted," she added.

Lamin K Marong, the president of GTU, thanked the guests for the gesture. For his part, Dr. Marty Holland, lecturer in education at Mary Immaculate College said they are in The Gambia purposely for voluntary work in the area of teaching practice to enhance their educational experience and to give the students a better understanding of the realities of education.

He explained that each year a set of final-year students come and do the same and this is the sixth batch in The Gambia. Fiona MC Grath and Katie Delaney, both final-year students from Mary Immaculate College thanked the GTU, students and teachers for being very cooperative and supportive.