Mr Foday Kanyi, Programme Lead for Climate Justice and Acting Programme Manager at Actionaid International The Gambia has called on parents and other relevant stakeholders to do more efforts to enroll their children in schools.
He made this called over the weekend at Bakalarr, Upper Nuimi District, North Bank Region (NBR) where Actionaid celebrated the Day of the African Child on the theme: “Humanitarian Action in Africa Children’s Right First.”
He said that the Day of the African Child is meant to remember the slain children in South Africa, noting that this has prompted them to ponder over our education system through advocacy and campaigns for more children go to school.
“When many African children are out of school and lack the knowledge there would be more problem in our society. And this solution to this, would be to send our children to schools. Am quite certain that through education our society can wipe out poverty,” Mr. Kanyi revealed.
He further asserted that there are several factors why certain children aren’t going to school such as distance, early marriage, etc.
He added that more efforts needed to be injected so that considerable number of children out of school in our society can attained basic primary education.
Mr. Basiru Mbenga, Director, Regional Education Directorate, NBR stated that it’s a right for us to be educated as human beings, adding that is also important to celebrate children and their talents.
He further renewed his ministry readiness in achieving ‘quality education’ in schools. He asserted that there are enough public schools where parents can send their children to.
Mr. Mbenga also commended Actionaid-The Gambia for what he referred to as ‘brilliant initiative’ in sponsoring and celebrating the African Child Day in his region.
For her part, Madam Musu Kebba Jarjue, Headmistress of Bakalarr Lower Basic School said children are our very future hence the need to prepare them is very fundamental. She also praised Actionaid International for leading the crusade in advocating for children’s rights to education in forums like this one.
Ebrima Darboe, a representative of Marabout of Madina Sidia said Gambian society needs a ‘behaviour change’, noting that if the system didn’t changed we would not make any headways in achieving quality education.
He further called on the government to take charge of their cardinal responsibility in ensuring that children go to school and be educated (either in English or Arabic).
“I want the central government to replicate taxpayers’ money to the ordinary citizens for projects such as maintenance of roads and provisions of water among others,” he appealed.
