The Gambia National Commission for UNESCO (NATCOM), on Wednesday handed over teaching and learning materials, worth US$25,000 to the Gambia College School of Education, at the College ground in Brikama

This was achieved through the Gambia College's Participatory Project for the strengthening of its teachers' training programme.
In his welcoming remarks, Dr Badara Senghor, Principal of the Gambia College, lauded the gesture, adding that the College has had a long-standing relationships with NATCOM and UNESCO in the areas of capacity-development and the strengthening of teaching and learning.

Dr Senghore said the Gambia College School of Education, has long been collaborating with the Department of State for Basic and Secondary Education.

He said the pressure to produce more teachers to merge the rapid expansion of classroom space and the increase in the enrolment of students has prompted the Department of State for Basic and Secondary Education to come out with strategies so as to produce competent and versatile teachers.

He expressed concerns with the dearth of qualified teachers in certain  areas which, according to him, hampers active learning in some schools.
He then thanked NATCOM- Unesco for the gesture and promised that the materials will be put into good use.

For his part, Yahya Al-Matarr Jobe, Programme Officer for Education and  Science at NATCOM, said teachers are crucial for the attainment of international education goals, and in particular, the Millennium Development Goals.

Mr Jobe described education as indispensable to human development and poverty eradication.  He then expressed the need for stakeholders to redouble their efforts, in order to build up systems and structures that would enable and support efficient planning and management of teachers training.

"UNESCO has been assisting in providing global leadership concerning teacher training and related policy issues," Mr Jobe said.
He finally urged the beneficiaries to take good care of the materials.

Mrs Isatou Ndow, Head of the School of Education Gambia College, expressed appreciation for the gesture, saying that it will go a long way towards paving the way for excellent teaching.

Other speakers at the ceremony, included Mrs Mariama Chow, Office Manager and Deputy Team Leader for Basic Education Support for Poverty Reduction.
The ceremony was chaired by  Demba Ceesay, Register at the Gambia College, while Princess Touray, gave the vote of thanks.