The National Patriotic Students' Association (NAPSA), yesterday, began a tour of schools in Banjul to assess the status of the turnout of students. 

The tour was also meant to examine the mechanisms put in place by school administrations to determine the readiness of the 2009-2010 academic year. The National Patriotic Student's Association is the body responsible for the academic welfare of the students in senior and basic categories. The general assessment as conducted by the executive members, is a constitutional requirement of the association. During the tour, headteachers of the visited schools expressed their satisfaction about the high turnout of students registered in their schools for this academic year.

Lamin Jaiteh, principal of Gambia Senior Secondary School, described NAPSA as true partners in education. He revealed that his administration has put in certain mechanisms to boost the academic performances of the students. Although the administration is currently busy with the registeration of new students, Jaiteh assured the executive members of NAPSA to always count on his school in terms of assistance.

The main concern raised by Martin Gomez, principal of St. Augustine's Senior Secondary School upon the arrival of the NAPSA executive there, was the problem of insufficient teachers. According to him, getting all the required teachers at the schools is increasingly becoming a problem. Gomez tasked the NAPSA executive to look for some encouraging mechanisms for Gambians to join the teaching field, which, he said if not addressed could cause serious impact on the country's education system in future. At Gaba Jahumpa Upper Basic School, the principal, Liou Mendy, said although his school is small in terms of population, they have registered an impressive turnout. He used the platform to highlight some intellectual mechanisms that he put in place for the academic year.

For Admire Loum, principal of Crab Island Upper Basic School, the shortage of teachers in schools is a concern that needs to be looked into. According to her, she needed 26 teachers but had only registered 16. Like the rest of her colleagues, the headteacher of Campama Lower Basic School expressed satisfaction over the high turnout of students. However, the principal of St Joseph's Senior Secondary School refused to speak to the delegation, saying she was busy and that she has not been informed.

In an interview with John Sambou, Public Relation officer of NAPSA, shortly after the end of the tour, he expressed gratitude for the level of the turnout of students at the visited schools. He revealed that NAPSA wishes that it is a tradition for the schools in the country to register high turnout at the beginning of every academic year.

He observed that if this is put into consideration by the school authorities, it would make a great impact on the country's education sector. He however expressed concern over the shortage of teachers at various schools. Jabou Dampha, NAPSA's chief technical adviser also expressed similar sentiments.