Twenty-five (25) education sector Peace Corps Volunteers on Friday, 3rd August, 2010 held a swearing in ceremony after completing a ten week Pre-Service Training (PST) in the Gambia.

The PST seeks to prepare the volunteers for life service in their respective communities in the country. During the process of their training, they have learnt how to communicate in the national languages of Mandinka, Wollof, Fula and Jola. This batch of volunteers, it is said, will be primary teacher trainers in mathematics and science as well as information and communication technology.

In his remark, Jeffrey Cornish, the Peace Corps Country Director, said their mission in the country is to have a trained corps of American Volunteers working in partnership with Gambians to enhance individual skills amongst others. He said their role is to help Gambians improve their lives in ways they themselves determine as important and sustainable.

The volunteers, said the country Director, have brought a wealth of experience and higher education to their work. "Each of them has been blessed with a strong sense of adventure and the confidence and ability to face hardship and successfully complete their service. They truly represent the best that America has to offer," said the Peace Corps Country Director.

Mr. Cornish however noted that for many of their volunteers it was not an easy decision to accept the invitation to serve as Peace Corps in the Gambia. These, he went on, meant that they would have to leave behind families and friends, their jobs and a culture and lifestyle that were comfortable to them.

He finally advised them to perform their daily tasks with enthusiasm, respect the culture and care for neighbours and colleagues, thereby fulfilling Peace Corps goals.

Delivering the keynote address, the Minister of Basic of and Secondary Education, Madam Fatou Lamin Faye, said under the Education sector, volunteers in the past had worked in the areas of curriculum research and development, technical and vocational education and training, amongst others.

She said they also contributed immensely to the introduction of information communication technology (ICT) in Gambian schools, including Senior Secondary Schools, Gambia College, GTTI and the University of The Gambia.

Minister Faye recognised the efforts being made by these volunteers adding that they are found working in the remotest parts of the Gambia. She said their record of dedication punctuality, sense of purpose, transparency and accountability is beyond measure.

"Of special note is that, volunteers speak Gambian languages, live with Gambian families and have always shown respect for the Gambia way of life", noted the Education Minister.

In other to support current efforts at improving the quality of teaching and learning, she said Peace Corps has recently moved away from direct teaching into more school-based teacher training which, according to her, is line with the Education sector Medium Term Plan(2008-2010).

She expressed her delight over the nine volunteers who responded as well as six of the two year volunteers who will be focusing on early literacy skills training using the phonic approach to the teaching of reading at the school level. She described it as timely, noting that the challenges associated with early grade reading abilities with the intensification of appropriate intervening strategies to ensure that reading disabilities in the educations sector are curbed to the core.

The Charge d' Affaires at the US Embassy, Madam Cindy Gregg, for her part, said that the work of the volunteers will contribute directly to the economic sustainability, education and the future of the Gambia.

She said that the lives of these volunteers will never be the same, for their experiences will become the common denominator for their future choices and pathways.

Madam Gregg said they will be loved and remembered long after they completed their services in the villages or communities they served in changing the lives of those people. She advised them to absorb the new culture and live within it but never forget who they are and what brought them here and that will take them home.

The swearing in ceremony, which was held at the American Ambassador's Residence, was attended by staff of the American Embassy and Peace Corps, Volunteers, Government officials, the press and other dignitaries. It was punctuated by entertainment in the local languages were volunteers showcase what they have learned during their training.

Certificates were also awarded to the Volunteers.