By Abdou Mbye
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) on Wednesday, 10 January 2024, warmly welcomed representatives from the Catholic Education Secretariat Co-operative Credit Union (CESCCU) in Banjul. The purpose of this bilateral engagement was to enhance collaboration, strengthen ties between the two entities, and for members of the cooperative to extend gratitude to the Ministry for its support to the Catholic Education Secretariat.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary (DPS) Finance, speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Gerreh Sanyang, expressed appreciation for the visit. He highlighted the opportunity it presented in discussing mutual issues and the well-being of both institutions. The DPS Finance reaffirmed the ministry’s unwavering commitment to supporting the secretariat.
Mr. Sampiere Mendy, the General Manager of CESCCU, expressed gratitude for the ministry’s support to their membership, noting that a significant portion of their members are teachers employed by MoBSE. He emphasized the importance of collaboration and expressed his eagerness for ongoing discussions to enhance their partnership.
“I have always looked forward to this meeting, and I am truly grateful. I register my appreciation to MoBSE. If you examine our membership, 60% are your staff. It is essential to come back and express our gratitude and explore how we can collaborate better because the membership will continue to grow with the number of teachers we register every year,” said General Manager Mendy.
He acknowledged the impact of funds such as the School Improvement Grant (SIG) from MoBSE, which aids in serving their members and working with CES. Additionally, he expressed the desire for further support in growing their membership.
Madam Michelle Nyima Jobe Mendy, Board Chairperson of CESCCU, extended thanks to the Ministry for the accord and urged them to encourage more teachers to join the credit union, fostering a stronger partnership between the entities.