By: Fatoumata Joof & Abdou Mbye
The First Lady of the Republic of The Gambia, Her Excellency Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, has awarded scholarships to ten students who performed outstandingly in the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), to pursue their undergraduate degrees in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The scholarship award ceremony was held on Monday 2nd September 2024, at the State House in Banjul.
The purpose was to recognise the excellent academic achievements of the 10 best graduating female students in the just concluded WASSCE examination, as well as support girls to pursue higher education degrees.
First Lady Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, emphasised her commitment to complementing government’s efforts in providing quality education. “I feel that I have a role to play and I should contribute my quota in one way or another. Whatever you do, do good because you might benefit from it in the future,” she remarked.
She encouraged the students to aspire to become professionals in fields like aviation, medicine, and engineering. The First Lady acknowledged the performances of the students and promised to keep track of their progress and performance at university. She reiterated the importance of education, especially for the girl child, making reference to successful and high performing role models like the current presidential candidate for the Democratic Party in the upcoming US elections, Kamala Harris.
Madam Bah-Barrow noted Vice President Harris as a woman who is highly educated and able to handle such huge responsibility. She also made reference to The Gambia’s former female vice presidents whom she regarded as highly educated too. She made these comments in order to uplift the spirits of the awardees, and to encourage them to continue to pursue their educational aspirations. She thus called on parents to encourage their female children to pursue education as the only channel towards self-development and towards breaking free from the poverty circle.
The Minister of Higher Education, Research Science and Technology, Prof. Pierre Gomez, commended the First Lady’s scholarship intervention, and described the action as significant and timely. Minister Gomez thanked FaBB for its continuous support to education through the provision of the various awards and scholarships.
He affirmed that the awards and scholarship packages are awarded based on merit and excellence, thus advised students to continue to work hard in order to excel in their careers.
Minister Gomez explained that the award letters will indicate a full scholarship package tenable at any tertiary and higher education institution of their choice in the country, and to do any course of their choice. He reminded the students of their role as future engineers, doctors and scientists, who will transform the economic status of this country.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology, Dr. Yusupha Touray, emphasised the commitment of the Ministry to supporting education especially at the tertiary and higher education levels.
PS Touray informed the First Lady that the Ministry, in partnership with the European Union, has an initiative to support and encourage more girls to venture into the teaching field in the education sector. He concluded by thanking the First Lady for spearheading this initiative.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Louise Moses Mendy, expressed delight at the Ministry’s strive to recognise and award excellence, and for encouraging continuous support and motivation for female education in the country. This, he emphasised, is meant to bridge the gap between male and female performance in schools. He observed that the Basic Education sector usually has very good enrollment for both boys and girls, but stated having challenges regarding the completion and transition of girls to higher educational levels. This, he explained, was not to discriminate against the male gender, but to encourage the transition of the girl child in the attainment of tertiary and higher education.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary at Office of the First Lady, Ms. Anna Jobe, acknowledged the performance of the girls and congratulated them on their excellent achievement. She stressed that the office deemed it necessary to collaborate with the relevant ministries in awarding this package to the deserving students; more especially the girls in order to motivate them.
She stated that, as the mother of the nation, the First Lady has the passion to see that girls excel and transcend from secondary to tertiary and higher education institutions.
Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Ms. Suwaidou Jammeh thanked the First Lady for giving them the opportunity and awarding them the scholarship. The scholarships, she commented, would not only serve as a means of financial support, but also as a validation of their ability to excel in whatever programme of study they choose to pursue in the future.
On behalf of her fellow students, Ms Jammeh promised to continue to work harder and excel in their various academic endeavours.
