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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
 Posted - 25 Oct 2006 : 15:05:35
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Schools can receive both public and private funding. Njucks you said you're against private schools however in Gambia don't parents have to pay school fees even if it is a government aided school? The reason why I suggested that old pupils who have graduated from Armitage invest in the school is because a lot of them have formed an elite class who have in many cases can afford to contribute some money towards a scholarship fund or new equipment/and or facilitates for the school. Hence puttting something back into their old school and contributing to future generations. The same principle can be transferred right across the board.
If Gambians are to compete internationally then a revision of its education system needs to take place.
Peace
Sister Omega
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Peace
Sister Omega |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2006 : 15:54:10
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quote:
Originally posted by Sister Omega
Njucks you said you're against private schools however in Gambia don't parents have to pay school fees even if it is a government aided school?
......them have formed an elite class who have in many cases can afford to contribute some money towards a scholarship fund or new equipment/
ofcourse it a free country and what i think is just my opinion. people can/should attend any school they like/can afford or not. its sad that people have to pay school fees in government school but thats the reality.
but my point is where there are serious gaps in income levels amongst the population, private schools will in the long term only create a divided society. surely you will agree with this. in the ideal case no one should pay school fees.
i'm not sure about the ''elite class'' you talk about but power and money are two different things. sometimes people have both but most Armitage guys were senior officials.
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2006 : 19:13:37
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quote:
people can/should attend any school they like/can afford or not. its sad that people have to pay school fees in government school but thats the reality.
I agree with your above statement and of course I agree with you that private schools bring about a class divide, and Armitage has been a school which as been associated with that class divide by traditionall producing Gambian elites. Who have gone onto be Senior officials and business men etc.
So surely out of this group even taking ito account Sir Dawda Jawara himself could afford to contribute to new facilitates of his old school. I'm sure he can remember occassions when Armitage students protested in the past because they were going hungry even though their parents had paid their school fees.
njucks in Britain there are Commnity Academies wehereby government pays the majority grant for running the school and the private sector invests into the school. The students are assessed on their abilities and can take their exams earlierif they are capable, those who need extra assistance get it and those in the middle are able to reach their academic or/ and vocational potential. These are not fee paying schools.
Peace
Sister Omega. |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2006 : 20:21:42
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quote:
Originally posted by Sister Omega
quote:
people can/should attend any school they like/can afford or not. its sad that people have to pay school fees in government school but thats the reality.
I agree with your above statement and of course I agree with you that private schools bring about a class divide, and Armitage has been a school which as been associated with that class divide by traditionall producing Gambian elites. Who have gone onto be Senior officials and business men etc.
So surely out of this group even taking ito account Sir Dawda Jawara himself could afford to contribute to new facilitates of his old school. I'm sure he can remember occassions when Armitage students protested in the past because they were going hungry even though their parents had paid their school fees.
njucks in Britain there are Commnity Academies wehereby government pays the majority grant for running the school and the private sector invests into the school. The students are assessed on their abilities and can take their exams earlierif they are capable, those who need extra assistance get it and those in the middle are able to reach their academic or/ and vocational potential. These are not fee paying schools.
Peace
Sister Omega.
Point of correction. Jawara never went ot Armitage. He attended Boys High School which later became Gambia High School. Boys High School is still standing just behind Gamtel Headquarters in Banjul. Its now a Primary School.
I dont agree that Armitage brought about an elite class. It was the only school then and by default became a tertiary institution. It was not by design but by accident. Infact it ceased as school for sons of chiefs almost immediately it opened. This was just to encourage many parents to accept western education and the chiefs as community leaders stand well positioned as opinion leaders.
Infat even after independence many schools closed because parents never wanted to send their children to school. Teachers used to go to the farms to pluck their children to school. Parents used to bring a younger brother to a headteacher and ask that he represents the elder brother so that the latter can help on the farm. Those were difficult times to introduce western education. Many government schools had to close because there were no willing parents to educate their children. This was happening even in 1980.
If anything, the Taxi Drivers coup of 1981, help Gambians rethink their lives again and began to ask questions that were hitherto unquestionable. Role of Government, their future and better standarsd of living. It created a "rebellious" group in all sectors of life especially the media. The likes Sanna Manneh (TICKS).
Action Aid then helped build more schools and the World Food Programme of the United Nations, provided lunch meals for students, they also provided milk every morning and every friday, the school cooked special meals. This was a big magnet and many children registered themselves without their parents knowing.
Armitage was a bait to attract students and not designed to create an elite class. Infact many Action Aid schools were built in villages that were near former Government schools that closed due to poor enrolments.
Some teachers adopted children so that they could go to school. Also important were Coorative employees who also adopted children to give them chance of education. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11833 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2006 : 21:05:40
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The issue of lack of teachers is not unique to Armitage alone in the provinces. Currently, many schools lack good teachers because of the fact that there is a tendency that skilled teachers would rather teach in the greater Banjul area. This is where they are able to get extra earnings by having extra private classes after school hours.
Grade 10 students and their teachers from Denmark who have been visiting Kuntaur Middle School yearly since 1997 have brought so many tools during the years but lack of qualified teachers is the greatest obstacle for the proper use of these tools. The school could even become a skills training center if only there is a qualified technical teacher or teachers. The only person teaching metal and wood work is himself an untrained teacher and he is not able to teach technical drawing, though very practical and dedicated which I have to commend him for.
We have had meetings with the regional education officers on several occasions and the answer has always been the same; qualified personnel would rather stay in the urban areas where they can earn extra money.
I don’t know how much allowance teachers get in being posted in the provinces but it would be a good idea to increase this amount. Perhaps that would encourage many to take teacking jobs there.
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2006 : 21:12:34
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quote:
Originally posted by kondorong
Infat even after independence many schools closed because parents never wanted to send their children to school. Teachers used to go to the farms to pluck their children to school. Parents used to bring a younger brother to a headteacher and ask that he represents the elder brother so that the latter can help on the farm. Those were difficult times to introduce western education. Many government schools had to close because there were no willing parents to educate their children. This was happening even in 1980.
closed!!! closed because there were no pupils? again i think this is another exaggeration. IF, with a big I, it happened then it must be an isolated case in Yorro Bawol.
infact the real TRUTH, is that many people who did not go to Armitage had to work kilometres to/fro school because there simply were too few schools. this is what happened not the reverse!
i think it is now generally accepted that there were not enough schools in the rural areas, something that even you have mentioned several times here and on your lastest postings. this is the reason why many FARMERS/PROTECTORATE send thier sons to Banjul/Kombos to get an educations in the 1920s-to-1990s. People wanted to educate their children.thats a FACT.
even the history of political development in The Gambia speaks for itself. When protectorate people wanted to choose who would run for President, only the few educated sons were shortlisted. the rest you know is history.
i would accept that there was a problem educating girls,because people were not comfortbale with their daughters being away from home walikng long distances, and also because of views on marriage.
but there has never being a rejection of education. never. its in our blood. whether its western or islamic or african. whatever you want to call it , people have always appreciated the quest for knowledge. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11833 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2006 : 21:21:40
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| Njucks, Karantaba school in CRD was closed in the early 1960s due to lack of students (There was less than 50 students). That was when a school was later opened in Jarume Koto in the same district in 1964. Karantaba school has now been re-opened (I don't know which year). |
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2006 : 21:56:16
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quote:
Originally posted by Momodou
Njucks, Karantaba school in CRD was closed in the early 1960s due to lack of students (There was less than 50 students). That was when a school was later opened in Jarume Koto in the same district in 1964. Karantaba school has now been re-opened (I don't know which year).
Thanks, i didnt know this.however i'm sure you would agree with me that these were probably isolated cases and not widespread???
its difficult to understand since many people were sent to the Kombos to stay with Akus/relatives to study/attend school because there were no schools in the provinces.
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Momodou
Denmark
11833 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2006 : 22:07:39
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quote:
Originally posted by njucks
Thanks, i didnt know this.however i'm sure you would agree with me that these were probably isolated cases and not widespread???
Njucks, It's the only one I know about so I can't say it widespread. |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2006 : 23:13:18
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I think Njuks is just ranting for nothing. I was a teacher before and everything i said above are correct. The school in my village was closed because there were no students and i had to spend my early childhood days away from home.
One of the reasons why children had to walk long distances was because not many parents would send their children to school. So one school served as a "catchments area" for the neighborhood. This was the term used whilst i worked for the ministry of education. It may have changed by now.
I will give you few examples of a schools. Kuntaur primary school is located in Fulla Kunda, and served, Fulla Kunda, JakaBa, Kuntaur, Wassu, Palan, Nema, Maka Saderr, Touba, etc and yet the enrollment was very small compared to the size of the settlements. Parents never wanted to. Infact about 40% of the students were from Kuntaur mostly children of civil servants especially from the Agric department, police, customs, GPMB, GRT, Maurel and Prom, CFAO, Kingsway and Area Council. I know for a fact that Jahanka families never sent their children to school until very recently.
Also as part of my duty at the regional office, i also visited Panchang Primary School which served Panchang Wharf town, Panchang Sanchataba, Panchang Madifana, Panchang Maka Guy, Panchang France, Porrli, Layba and other border villages in Senegal yet in their first common entrance, less than 10 students were in primary six. In fact the teachers mixed two classes to save stationery. It was not right, but teaching three students in a class or sometimes one was a big challenge. It was even worst around June.
This story is replicated all over the countryside. Ballagnarr, Njau, Niamina Dankunku, Bansang, Mamud Fana, Kerr Ma Jabel, Kuntuwata, all in region 4. Momodou is right Karantaba school had to close even though it served Tabokoto, Karantaba Wollof, Tukulor, Wharftown, Dutokoto etc. It’s also in region 4 and a class A school. Eventually people started to accept western education gradually. In fact it was an approved policy at the education department to empty the food store just before the summer holidays and students were given sacks of wheat to take home. In some families this world food programme food from the USA was the only food especially in the tough months of September and October. This helped many to go to school
In addition Njuks, you are right about the pre-independence election candidates. There were really very few to shortlist and that’s how Jawara topped the list. Jawara would not have made the list if there was another candidate of similar educational level. As a Cobbler, traditionally, they do not become leaders. That’s why the NCP signature tune was “ BANKU KANTALA NING MANSA TEH KILING TI” by the famous LALO KEBBA DRAMMEH of Southern Senegal. We exhausted this in other topics.
Sixth form education was like masters degree and this was true for many years. We used to bluff around Banjul in my sixth form Uniform after school and we were respected for that. More than half the number of employees in the ministry of health had no health training and more than half the 3000 employees in the department of agriculture have no formal education in 1985. Check the World Bank Report on the Gambia for the year 1985. If time permits I will give you report number and the relevant pages.
It was a tradition that when a graduate came home, for him or her to meet the president. In fact the news goes around the country as wild fire. Colonial Africa saw very little tertiary education and in Botswana for example, there was only one university graduate at independence. Gambia may have probably less than 10.
In fact Kiang had no graduate and their members of parliament were "borrowed" from other constituencies before elections. This explains why Bakary Darboe was revered as the first few educated that the region could count on. The "Kiang Airport" was a history that is not spoken of as a borrowed candidate used it to gain votes.
Even though MRC had been in Kiang for over 50 years, its presence never boosted western education. They resisted it. In fact Kiang Sankandi is the only known settlement in the Gambia that resisted the British rule and on one day killed six policemen and one British Traveling Commissioner was killed in the process. The monument marking the deaths still stands at the Anglican Church in Banjul by the entrance of the Quadrangle. Sankandi is bedrock of resistance to colonial rule. The Oral History and Antiquities Division of the National Museum recognized this role of Sankandi that four years ago they wrote a play and acted it out annually as part of the roots festival. Unfortunately this is not taught in Gambian history classes and am not sure if its part of the syllabus. There is a lot about Gambian history we don’t know.
If you think I am wrong, write to them and they will confirm it for you. Mr Sidibeh used to be the Director later replaced by one Mr. Joof.
In kiang, only the village of Kwinella seriously embraced western education and hence many kiang graduates have ties to the village or went to school there.
An MP who went to night school in someone’s home represented Jarra. This was a time when some cabinet ministers could not differentiate between soft drinks then called “mineral” and precious minerals like diamond gold etc. That is a whole topic by itself. Sorry I am digressing.
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njucks
Gambia
1131 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2006 : 23:35:03
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quote:
Originally posted by kondorongIf time permits I will give you report number and the relevant pages.
that will not be necessary as i dont think the World Bank are honest.
You on the otherhand are absolutely right. i am convinced.
i think we say the same thing all the time in different ways, same language but different ways. regaring Cabinet ministers (jokers) you mentioned, we are very lucky to be where we are. belai!
so is the Kiang Airport project still on, i think Basse would be better.?
i have learned something. |
Edited by - njucks on 25 Oct 2006 23:43:48 |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 26 Oct 2006 : 00:41:03
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quote:
Originally posted by njucks
quote:
Originally posted by kondorongIf time permits I will give you report number and the relevant pages.
that will not be necessary as i dont think the World Bank are honest.
You on the otherhand are absolutely right. i am convinced.
i think we say the same thing all the time in different ways, same language but different ways. regaring Cabinet ministers (jokers) you mentioned, we are very lucky to be where we are. belai!
so is the Kiang Airport project still on, i think Basse would be better.?
i have learned something.
No one talks about the airport in Kiang. I am sure the Baddibunkas are laughing all the way to Chako Bantang |
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kondorong
Gambia
4380 Posts |
Posted - 26 Oct 2006 : 01:25:42
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I would like to make a correction to one of my postings. Boys High School was built in 1921 six years earlier than Armitage. by the Wesley Mission. It was called Methodist Boys High School.
To buttress the distaste for western education, muslim elders of Banjul appealed to the governor in 1908 to have their own muslim school where they could teach Arabic and English. Howeever, it was not unitl 1928 when Governor Cecil Armitage approved it. Famous gambians then were Garba Jahumpa(father of the Secretary of State Jahumpa and Fatoumatta Jahumpa), Tomas Javra and Master Williams.
It partly explains the emergence of the Muslim Congress in the run up to independence. The group had beginnings at Muhameddan Primary School |
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kobo
United Kingdom
7765 Posts |
Posted - 26 Oct 2006 : 01:31:59
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Where are the solutions to the problems Armitage is facing? Its not about closing the school; because Armitage is considered Gambia's Eton, Gambia High School Gambia's Oxford and Roman Catholic School Gambia's Cambridge by their goodwill, credibility, heritage and history. These were the three best high schools and amongst the oldest. Armitage must survive and requires solutions to its problems, especially ideas, any moral support, materials,technical, cash or in kind for revamp of the Labouratory facilites as a priority, support its students and other relevant development projects.
These schools mentioned including Armitage were normally administered by trustees (Board of Directors) as independent schools from government. If Armitage is under government, it shpould be handed over to Janjangbureh Area council (municipality or whatever?) and TRUSTEES instituted to run Armitage for AFFORDABILITY, , for VALUE FOR MONEY, SUSTAINABILITY, SUCCESS AND GOOD RESULTS!
With a proper management structure, support from both central government, local government, Janjanbureh Area Council, technical assistance and development support from Aid agencies like UNESCO, UNDP, UNCDF, EU, ODA, SCAAP, USAID, Peace corps etc; the EX-PUPILS can be sensitised about Armitage's plights and they can mobilised lots of resources, income generating activities and annually assessed the school's needs and priorities for continued support; there can't be doubt that Armitage SURVIVES!
I believe a vibrant ARMITAGE EX-PUPILS ASSOCIATION can seek funding and support their former school and a very important Gambian educational or institute heritage. |
Edited by - kobo on 26 Oct 2006 10:17:44 |
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Sister Omega
United Kingdom
2085 Posts |
Posted - 26 Oct 2006 : 13:57:46
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Kobo so eloquently said. Kondorong thanx for correcting me on Jawara's schooling. It was brought to my attention that Armitage students had indeed protested to President Jawara when he was in office about the appalling conditions at Armitage and were able to win some concessions for improvements. Kobo's suggestion is a viable one and the Academy structure could also be included within this framework where children are able to progress through the school on their ability rather than their age.
Peace
Sister Omega |
Peace
Sister Omega |
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