SEO Kaady Bah
A senior education officer has announced that the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MOBSE), in partnership with Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) will today launch the Maths Science for Sub Saharan Africa project (MS4SSA) at the Regional Education Directorate in Kanifing.
SEO Kaddy Bah who doubles as the MS4SSA project coordinator was speaking in an interview on Friday in Kanifing.
Mrs Bah explained that many other African countries were asked to send their proposals, but out of the lot, only Nigeria, Niger, Rwanda and The Gambia were identified as regional nodes.
“Being a regional node entails that the particular country can be used as a base to train people from surrounding countries, likewise learn and share good practices. The main reason why The Gambia was selected as a node was our experience in the New JC center for teaching and learning (NJCTL). The center came with a project using ICT smart technology for Maths and Sciences,” she remarked.
Mrs Bah highlighted that the aim of the training is to help teachers and students to practice the theories learnt.
“We hope to motivate students in the sciences as people are afraid of the field. Also, for learners to begin making use of materials in our environment and make benefit out of them. This could help in the national development process and future career development,” she said.
The training will target 24 basic and senior secondary schools and the project entails student learning through robotics, material science called NANO technology, project base learning, 3D printing and how teachers could utilize technology base equipment in their classrooms.
Mrs Bah informed that four experts from WPI would serve as main facilitators. Included is Mr Wole Sobojo, a Nigerian-American who pioneered the project.
She went on: “An online master class for 10 selected participants was conducted with the help of WPI. In turn, these individuals will serve as trainers during the weeklong training. The project would not have been launched without the support of WPI,” Mrs Bah acknowledged.
Mr Lamin M Saidy, a previous master class trainee now trainer, highlighted the importance of the project stating that during the online session, they were unable to receive hands-on materials. However, with the availability of equipment, their experiences will be further boosted and in consonance, equip their trainees.
Mr Buba Tamba, another facilitator of the MS4SSA project similarly underscored the significance of maths and science in national development.
“For any country to develop, science must really form the corner stone but Gambia is indifferent in this regard. This is why every effort is about how to improve teaching and learning in our school system especially with the use of artificial intelligence (AI),” he said.
The reason, he explained, is because development is tilting towards artificial intelligence. Most of the labor jobs are replaced with AI. Therefore, to be recognized at the global stage, there is need to be prepared and “we must keep pace with technology otherwise we will be left behind,” he stressed.
By Mahzouba Maya Faal