Kingstom Nursery School in Lamin Daranka, last Saturday, held its first graduation ceremony at the school ground.  

Speaking at the ceremony, Binta Jammeh-Sidibeh, the executive director of the Association for the Promotion of Girls and Women's Advancement in the Gambia (APGWA) said education is to acquire knowledge, receive instruction and to be provided with information to develop oneself spiritually, mentally, morally and physically.

She said that to learn is to gain understanding, to gain understanding is to gain a skill. She said an educated person is normally classified as having great knowledge and skills. She noted that knowledge encompasses the acquisition of all what someone learnt from home, from society, from schools. Sidibeh then informed stakeholders in the education field, to always note that President Jammeh did a lot in the sector. "He has built enough schools, established a Trust Fund for Girls Education, and provided scholarship for all categories of students through Jammeh Foundation for Peace Initiative," she emphasised.

She furthr urged parents not to force girls into early marriage and protect the girl child from all forms of abuse within the homes, communities so as to contribute immensely towards the socio-economic development of the nation. She revealed that women account for 51% of the population and if half of the population are not allowed to enjoy their full potentials as citizens, i.e; the right to education, the right to make choices and decisions about their own lives, giving equal opportunities and equity for all and sundry, the nation cannot develop to it's full capacity.

For her part, the head mistress of the school, Elizabeth Tommy, said nursery education is the foundation stage to education and that children learn faster at tender age. She said giving the children this opportunity means giving them their basic rights to quality education so as to also contribute to national development.

She expressed delight at the graduation of the forty pupils. She however confirmed that it was not easy administering the school with the little resources obtained from the fees. She further said that the untimely payment of fees poses a great problem in the provision of salaries, educational material for the students and administration. She thanked the teachers for their support and hard work, perseverance and dedication to duty over the years as without them, the smooth running of school would have been impossible. After the programme, certificates were awarded to all graduating pupils and prizes to deserving students.