As part of its Action Plan 2007-2009, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO), in collaboration with the World Islamic Call Society (WICS) and The Gambia National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM), yesterday, began a three-day sub-regional workshop for educational leadership on the devising of learning materials and curricula and development of design, training and assessment methods, at the Sunset Beach Hotel in Kotu.

The workshop is being conducted by two international experts from ISESCO and a Gambian expert. The workshop also brought together participants from Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Burkina Faso and The Gambia. The theme for the workshop is centred on: "Preparation of teaching aids and the development of curricula and training methods."  

In his opening remarks, Mr Babucarr Boye, permanent secretary, Department of State for Basic and Secondary Education, revealed that in The Gambia, they are reviewing the curricula for the Basic Cycle Schools. As a result, he noted, they are mindful that education should be relevant to each child, thus they aim at devising a sound, coherent and up-to-date standard curriculum with adequate teaching aids.

"Just as these issues are being addressed for the formal system, the Department of State for Basic and Secondary Education is not leaving behind the Madrassah, which are currently using the synchronised curriculum" he disclosed.

According to him, they recently conducted a series of in-service training activities for Arabic teachers on methods and curriculum development. He noted that soon these Arabic-Islamic teachers will be tasked to revisit and revise the existing curriculum which is not responsive to their socio-economic goals.  Also, he said, publishers are being invited to print learning materials for the teaching of the Arabic language in schools.

"You will no doubt agree that we want to provide the same educational conditions for all children irrespective of which type of school they attend; therefore, we will have to equip Arabic/Islamic teachers with the skills for the development of relevant instructional approaches and materials," he said.

He added that, this sub-regional workshop for education specialists 'on the educational preparation of teaching aids and the development of curricula and training methods' is timely.  

"It complements our efforts since it aims at improving the Arabic teaching curricula, the quality of training and promotes diversification of teaching methods.  Earlier this year, ISESCO funded a training session for Arabic/Islamic teachers in which ICT applications were introduced to enhance teaching methodology and learning and this was a milestone in the development and teaching of Arabic as a second language," he went on.

He commended ISESCO for the immense efforts deployed in order to support member states in their drive to bring quality to their education systems, and also the World Islamic Call Society, which collaborated with ISESCO in funding the workshop. ''I wish to extend the appreciation of the secretary of state for Basic and Secondary for their active participation in education,'' he added.

For her part, Dr Khadija Albadawi, ISESCO representative, extended his organisation's commitment to supporting Islamic/Arabic education to achieve its aim and aspirations for better Islamic/Arabic teachings and also promised that her office will provide all the necessary materials for the attainments of these goals.