President Adama Barrow has made it clear that laying the blocks of the college annex in Basse is a constitutional right to educational opportunities.
In his words he said “this is in fulfillment of one of our Constitutional mandates – Right to Educational opportunities and making Higher education accessible to all,” he said.
He added that education has been a key priority of his government, as clearly manifested in the National Development Plan. “We were resolved to remedying the disadvantages that our people in rural Gambia have suffered from in the past, when children had to abandon their parents in search of college education in the Greater Banjul Area,” he disclosed
The President went on that his government has taken, and will continue to take concrete steps to make education, in general, and tertiary and higher education, in particular, accessible. He disclosed that his government has found a willing partner, “The MRC-Holland Foundation who sponsored this great edifice.”
He told the gathering that this educational annex, which will be inaugurated shortly, will also play a significant part in reducing the rural-urban migration and by extension immigration of youths outside the country.
According to him, teachers who will graduate from this annex, will stay here and provide people with the quality education they deserve. He therefore assured everyone that his government will continue to bring development to the doorsteps of every Gambian.
“As a people, we must educate our children to guarantee their future and the development of this nation. We cannot achieve this if we restrict access to education. As a native of rural Gambia, I saw how people struggled for accommodation when they first arrived in the Kombos to seek for better career opportunities. I am proud that this project will contribute to alleviating such challenges,” he said.
