The Catholic Education Secretariat, in collaboration with The Gambia Irish Volunteer Educationists (GIVE), recently concluded a week-long training of trainers workshop for Early Childhood Development (ECD) teachers in Bwiam, Foni Kansala District of the West Coast Region.

The training brought together 20 participants from Regions 2 and 5, and it was aimed at building their capacities on the basic skills of teaching Jolly Phonics, which include learning letter sound, learning letter formation, blending for reading, identifying the sound in word among others.

Speaking to the Daily observer shortly after the training, Edward Gibba, the Catholic Education Secretariat coordinator, underscored the importance of the training, saying that children need to be well positioned in their nursery stage; that helps them advance positively in their future educational career.

Proper formation, he said, is possible when the teachers of nursery schools are well knowledgeable about the foundation of teaching. He therefore thanked GIVE for funding the training.

For her part, Margaret Bouher, GIVE team leader, commended the teachers for their active participation and urged them to make best use of the knowledge gained during the training.