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Momodou
Denmark
11833 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Feb 2007 : 13:39:57
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GAMBIA COLLEGE STUDENTS STILL OFF CAMPUS
By Baboucarr Ceesay
Reports reaching Foroyaa have it that students of the Gambia College are still living off the college campus residence. College students who expressed their dismay and disappointment to this reporter said the Student Union leaders left no stone unturned to settle the matter with the concerned authorities, but the situation remains unchanged.
The students mentioned that the Union leaders discussed with the Permanent Secretary for Education but his reaction was that the dormitories are not habitable and for that matter the college administration was ordered to close them. They indicated that the same reason was given when they took up the issue with the college council and the SoS for Education.
They further explained that the Students Union leaders later wrote to the President for an audience with him on their plight, but the President also referred them to the SoS for Youths, Sports and Religious Affairs. After meeting with SoS Faye, the students said the matter was followed up to the level of the President's Office again.
The students however alleged that their residence is being used as hostel for guests, whilst they stay off campus with a stipend of only D350.00 to cater for rent, feeding and other costs.
When contacted, the Principal of the Gambia College, Dr. A.B. Senghore, said that they have clarified issues to the general student body that the dormitories would be closed for this academic year as a matter of policy and, therefore, accommodation and feeding would not be available.
On the students' allegation that the student residence is being used as a hostel, Senghore said that they have renovated only four rooms to accommodate 9 Dutch students from the University of Zealand in Holland who are on an exchange programme for cultural experience lasting for four weeks. He said these students are P.T.C students and the college cannot afford them rooms in the hotels, and therefore had to use the college residence.
Dr. Senghore also said that 9 students from the P.T.C students of The Gambia College are already selected to pay an exchange visit to their counterparts in March. He stated that these students will be provided with free air tickets.
"The students have to understand that the closure of the dormitories came as a matter of policy and not a permanent closure, but only for this academic year," he concluded.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 014/2007, 5-6 February, 2007
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