The Hemann Gmeiner SOS Junior and Primary School Thursday held10th graduation ceremony at the school ground in Bakoteh. Speaking at the occasion, John Senusi, the principal of the junior school expressed delightto witness a decade of graduations since the school‘s inception 12 years back. According to him, the school has witnessed a lot of successes in the currently ending academic year.

He revealed that most of the graduates began their schooling in SOS, and that they are indeed crossing another barrier, but that the journey of educational pursuit is still long. He brought to light the fact that they have crossed many obstacles to reach their set goals but that they still need everybody’s support and encouragement. He urged the graduates to see the occasion as a happy and memorable day, as well as a starting point for them to become ambassadors of their Alma mata.

Senusi disclosed that they have a present enrolment of 455 girls out of 856 pupils. Giving account of the numerous achievements attained by the students of the school and its administration,Senusi disclosed that the school captured second position in the cleanest school survey, conducted by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW), in collaboration with National Environment Agency in all six educational regions.

The school, he went on, continuous to place emphasis on students’ academic performance, which he said has created an environment in which students can challenge themselves to achieve success. “Teaching and learning is challenging based on our quality assurance strategies and best interest of the children,” he stated.

The SOS junior school principal told the graduates that good preparation prevents poor performance, noting that if they prepare well they would surely succeed. He urged them to make good use of the opportunities to achieve success and advised them to be disciplined, determined, consistent, hardworking, honest, respectful, obedient, courteous, humble, patient and tolerant.

In his opening remarks, Ousainou Drammeh, the principal of SOS High School, on behalf of the national director, Departments of the SOS Regional and National office, stated that the staff of SOS drew inspiration from Dr Hermann Gmeiner, whose strong will and conviction towards the attainment of human dignity made it possible for the seed of SOS to grow in Australia in 1949 to over 132b countries worldwide including The Gambia.  He revealed that over 2000 pupils are currently enrolled in SOS schools both in Bakoteh and Basse.

Drammeh congratulated the graduating students for their successful completion of their basic cycle programmes and urged them to strive harder for successful educational career.