By Abdou Mbye
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MOBSE) in partnership with World Bank recently held six-day training for teachers across the country on policy-linking. Held at the Education Directorate in Kanifing, the occasion brought together stakeholders from MOBSE and from the seven Regional Education Directorates.
The World Bank-funded initiative is meant to devise strategic measures to meet global educational standards. It targets teachers, curriculum assessment specialists and experts in the country and creates a platform for actors in education to gather and discuss National Assessment Test (NAT) results for MOBSE and use the report on the Sustainable Development Goal Indicator, which allows the country to fulfill its commitment with UNESCO and UN in terms of reporting performance of students in general.
The six days’ training incorporated an additional online training for MOBSE staff on how to conduct such training in the future.
“I think this is useful as MOBSE, and stakeholders in the country are conducting more research on the curriculum, thinking of what is next for NAT and how to improve the quality of education for all,” Mr. Diego Luna Bazaldua, stated the World Bank Education Specialist.
Mrs Fatimata Hydara, Senior Education Officer at the Performance Measurement and Evaluation Directorate said: “We have invited panelists who are active teachers across all regions in the country that would sit and analyze the items, decide on them accurately on the level they are tested and also based on the curriculum”.
She disclosed that they have team from World Bank; together with facilitators from the Netherlands; observers from NFPR and some consultants, who are all here to support this activity.
Mrs Fatou Bittaye, Principal Education Officer (PEO), who doubles as the Mathematics Desk Officer at the Curriculum Directorate, and in-house facilitator on the policy linking workshop, underscored the importance of the training, and said it coincided with the ongoing curriculum review process that will help update and bridge the gaps.
“I know most of the participants have developed interest in setting items and when they go back to their schools and compare what they are doing and what is happening globally then it will put in the picture the position of The Gambia in terms of assessment. This will help us in the curriculum development process and also in setting standards and compare our level with global standards,” she posited.
Leya Mendy, a grade five teacher participant from Makumbaya Lower Basic School, expressed optimism that the training will help them link the NAT results to the Global Proficiency Framework for the realisation of sustainable development.
Mendy used the opportunity to urge fellow participants to make good use of the knowledge acquired and challenged them to set standard NAT questions for the students.