The chief of Defense Staff of The Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) has inspired a batch of grade 12 graduating students at his former school, the Muslim Senior Secondary School, with words of great wisdom and encouragement, as they set to begin another hectic journey of academia at the tertiary level.

Lieutenant General Masanneh Kinteh, who was among the guest speakers, hastened to underscore the importance of education, something he described as the best tool to bringing a positive change in society, as well as to develop a generation of responsible individuals.

Speaking on Saturday to647 graduating students drawn from both the English and Arabic section of the School, Kinteh underscored that the fundamental purpose of education is to gain knowledge, understanding the forms of proper conduct and acquire technical competency in specific subjects, saying education serves as the means to develop oneself physically, mentally and socially.

The GAF boss went on to challenge the students to be very disciplined and dedicated to services, given their status as future leaders of the nation. In his view, the combination of education and discipline will enable the students to effectively and efficiently render the needed service to humanity.

“Know your roles and responsibilities in the society and society's prescription for their achievements. You students are much more facilitated and opportune than all other generations of Gambian students before the advent of His Excellency’s [government], who has given you the sky as your limit for quality education,” he told the outgoing students.

He went on: “What you are learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future”. Out of his good will gesture, CDS Kinteh also used the opportunity to give prizes in the form of cash to some students and teachers.

Speaking earlier, the deputy principal of Muslim Senior School, Nfansu Bojang,said the 647 outgoing students comprised of 624 students from the English section, and 23 students from the Arabic section (Madarassa). He indicated that in the English section, 329 are boys and 295 girls, whilst in the Arabic section, 12 are boys and 11 girls.

“Unfortunately, some students this year could not sit to the WASSCE 2012 due to lack of funding and other social problems. We are therefore kindly asking stakeholders and other philanthropists to assist in this area,” he appealed.

He congratulated the outgoing students for their efforts and perseverance during the long period of their academic life at the school. However, he urged them not to rest on their laurels for this is just the beginning of another long and rough journey that is bound test them to the limits. He urged them to be serious and honest in whatever endeavour they take, while advising them to always associate themselves with the school.

Bojang thanked the parents who came to witness the passing out of their children before shifting to academic report. He described the 2010-2011 academic performance of a school with 78 teaching staff as a success, with students registering a good degree of excellence in the 2011 WASSCE exams. He therefore thanked the government under the leadership of President Jammeh for the enormous contribution in upgrading the welfare and education of students in the school.

He finally concluded by thanking all those who have been supporting the school, while wishing the graduating students all the best in the life after senior secondary education.