St Therese's Upper Basic School last Saturday, concluded a day training workshop for its staff on "alternative methods of punishing students.

In her adress of welcome, the principal of the school, Mrs Zono Jammeh, said the workshop was meant to basically sensitise teachers on how to apply alternative methods of punishment instead of corporal punishment .She highlighted the important role teachers play in the society and urged them to practice the knowledge gained.

Sulayman Njie from the Department of State for Education, said the future of a nation lies in the hands of the teachers. Njie, who once won the best principal award at Muslim Senior Secondary School, highlighted some constraints faced by teachers in classrooms such as absenteeism, lateness and idleness among students.
 
Despite all this problems, he argued that teachers can harness certain mechanisms to overcome them without corporal punishment. He maintained that every problem has a solution. For his part, Essa Sowe, assistant secretary general, Gambia Teahers Union (GTU), highlighted the role played by GTU in the welfare of teachers in the country such as the protection of their rights and sensitising them through symposiums at their various schools.

According to him, this kind of sensitisation give opportunities to teachers to express their views. He then implored on St Therese's UBS to choose someone who will represent them at GTU level. Dawda Faye, senior education officer, Roman Catholic Mission, dilated on the importance of records keeping at school level.