The minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Claudiana A Cole, has pointed to the fact that due to the disruptive impact of COVID-19 there will be some procedural and operational changes in the schools in order to navigate the precarious circumstance that this new reality presents.
The Basic and Secondary Education minister made this remark during the ministry’s routine ‘National Bantaba’ held at its premises in Banjul. This came at the wake of her announcement of the opening of schools slated for next week and week after for the two categories of Grades 7-12 and ECD -6. The day’s forum was graced by the SMCs Conference of Principals, GTU, school heads, stakeholder, students and Ministry officials.
Further in her remarks, Madam Cole said: “What we used to have as normal schooling will not be the same anymore because we will use different strategies in the schools to make sure we provide quality education to the children when they go back to school”.
On the sitting arrangement of students in class, she explained that no class will accommodate 50 students anymore like in the past and that they are extending school days and time. “We are going to have a maximum of 30 students in a class or less,” she said, adding that physical distancing will be observed.
Minister Cole asserted that Government is spending huge amount of money towards the provision of basic education in the country, which she noted, needs to be recognised and appreciated by the public.
She therefore enjoins parents and guardians to contribute their quota to development of their children. “When it comes to the provision of quality education, it should be a concerted effort”.
By Lamin Darboe