A five-day validation workshop for Journalism Curriculum at the University of The Gambia opened last Monday at the Regional Education Office in Kanifing.

It was organised by NATCOM/UNESCO in collaboration with ISESCO and the University of The Gambia. Speaking at the ceremony, Mariama Ndure-Njie, the deputy permanent secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology has said that the world of higher education is marked by a complex struggle about new challenges, opportunities and the renewal of everything from institutions to curricula from systems to modes of learning.

DPS Ndure-Njie noted that considering the substantial change and development experienced by higher education, the enhancement of its quality and relevance, and the solution to the major challenges it faces, the strong involvement not only of governments and of higher education institutions, but also of all stakeholders, including students and their families, teachers, business and industry, the public and private sectors, parliaments, the media, the community, professional associations and society as well as higher education institutions and resources will be required.

According to her, as the world is undergoing rapid challenges, there is a perceived need for a new vision and paradigm of higher education, which she said, should be student-oriented. She added that to achieve these goals, it may be necessary to recast curricula, using new and appropriate methods, so as to go beyond cognitive mastery of disciplines.

She further noted that the validation workshop stood as a landmark and signalled the beginning of reinforced cooperation between the media fraternity and the University of The Gambia. "If successfully completed, it will provide impetus to new partnerships and initiatives aimed at strengthening higher education at the University of The Gambia. She then urged the participants to focus sharply on the tasks in hand-first, to extend, deepen and share knowledge and understanding of key developments taking place in curriculum design and journalism both nationally and internationally.

For his part, Muhammadou M.O Kah, vice chancellor of the University of The Gambia noted that the University of The Gambia was established by an Act of the National Assembly of The Gambia in March 1999. This enactment and establishment of a national university, under the leadership of President Jammeh was a bold step to fulfil a long-standing desire of the people of The Gambia and to respond to several years of advocacy both within and outside the country for a university.

Dilating on the seminar, Vice Chancellor Kah said the main objective of it is to prepare individuals in critical thinking and problem solving skills and develop individuals who will address the information technology and communications and media and managerial needs of organisations in a developing country context yet be competitive in other organisational and/or geography setting as well. He said that information technology and communication provides new channels to pursue economic development goals bringing new tools to national development and building human and social capital.

He then confirmed that the said program created and under review,  will become a pillar in meeting one of the main objectives of President Jammeh's reform agenda i.e; to provide relevant, sustainable and high quality tertiary education and research to support socio-economic, scientific and technology advances and development, and the promotion of excellence in the creation and dissemination of knowledge; and to produce men and women who can provide intellectual leadership in the emergence of a nation wedded to the ideals of democracy and a socially, politically and economically self-reliant country in a globalised and interdependent world. Alhaji Cham, permanent secretary, Ministry of Communication, Information and Information Technology said that the quest for information and communication is vital for every society.

He said "we must hence work at producing well trained people capable of competing at the international level and also sensitive to African and Gambian realities. As we all know, the domestication and mastery of information and communication tools and mechanisms is important for development oriented societies and countries because in the so-called "knowledge economy", the strategic and operational importance of information management is no longer questioned. Knowledge is the primary source for economic development. Over the next four days, you will be engaged in a very important exercise which I am confident you will discharge with diligence. The Gambia and its people will ultimately have a responsive, feasible and relevant Curriculum," he remarked.

Cham noted that journalism is an important discipline as it deals with the handling and dissemination of information. Therefore, he added, journalists as part of our society should be moulded just as everyone to uphold values such as respect for rule of law and for each other, trustworthiness, tolerance and peace.

According to him, an ill-informed and miss-informed society will be affected by misunderstanding, stigma, discrimination and intolerance, noting that journalist and the communication workers are crucial in the quest for information and their interpretation. Sukai Bojang, secretary general, NATCOM/UNESCO, gave the welcoming remarks.