Report on Activities of Gambia National Commission for UNESCO
from March 19 to June 30, 2001

Introduction

I assumed office as Secretary General of the Gambia National Commission for UNESCO on March 19, 2001. Therefore this report covers the first three months of my stewardship.

Administrative Matters

The office successfully made the arrangements and administered:

  1. The participation of the Acting Principal, Gambia College, Mrs Yvette Phillot at a workshop on Distance Education in Abuja, Nigeria. UNESCO sponsored her participation.

  2. The participation of a nominee to the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association/UNESCO organised Viewers and Listeners International Meeting in London, England in June. Mrs Nyimasata Sanneh-Bojang represented this country at the meeting. The Commonwealth Broadcasting Association sponsored her.

  3. The attendance of the Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, Hon. M. Sarjo Jallow as well as the Director of Youth and Sports at the Ministerial Roundtable on Sports and Peace in everyday life in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast from 28-30 June 2001. The meeting was organised and sponsored by UNESCO.

  4. The confirmation of the participation of Ms. Marang Darboe Manjang of the Department of Community Development by the Government of Israel in the new Training Course on 'the role of women in neighborhood rehabilitation in the urban informal sector". This course will be held from July 9 to August 7, 2001 in Mashav, Israel.

  5. The confirmation of the participation of MsTida Jatta of the Guidance and Counselling Unit/DoSE, Mrs Fatoumatter Sallah of St. Peter's Senior Secondary School and Mr Ousainou Loum of the Gambia College at a training programme in Guidance and Counselling in Domasi, Malawi later this month. This is a continuation of a training programme attended by Ms Jatta and Mr Loum, last year in the same institution. UNESCO funded their participation.

  6. The acceptance by ISESCO of Mr Housainou Touray, Senior Education Officer responsible for Madrassas to an experts meeting on primary education in Dakar, Senegal from 9 to 13 July 2001. Mr Momodou Jeng of the Standard and Quality Assurance Directorate was sponsored by UNESCO at the same meeting.

  7. The Selection of Mr Amadou Jako, Senior Education Officer at the Standards and Quality Assurance Directorate, Department of State for Education by ISESCO to join other experts in order to prepare reports on the current status of Arabic language teaching in the Sahel Countries.

  8. The confirmation of the participation of Mr Ibrahim S Touray of the Gambia College at the UNESCO Transatlantic Slave Trade Education Project meeting on "New Prospects, new partnerships" scheduled for 25 - 29 July 2001 in Charleston, South Carolina.

(a) The Gambia College has been provided with the funds to organise six divisional workshops on the "production of low cost learning materials". The workshops for Regions Two and Six have already been conducted. UNESCO provided the funds.

Visit of the Director General of ISESCO

  1. The Director General of ISESCO visited this country from 27 - 29 May 2001. He had audience with His Excellency the President, Alhaji Yaya A J Jammeh on May 29, 2001. We have been able to submit the following requests, which were agreed upon:

(a) drawing and costing for extension of the Documentation Centre;
(b) procurement of a vehicle;
(c) participation at various workshops/meetings and;
(d) vacant positions at ISESCO to be contested by eligible Gambians.

  1. I have written to all members of NATCOM to submit their sectoral action plans so these would be forwarded to ISESCO. This was requested by the organisation so that their next Action Plan will take congnisance of the aspirations of member states.

  2. The Department of Sate for Education has been requested to provide us with a list of the proposed location of ISESCO Clubs.

  3. The National Civic Education Council has also been requested to submit project proposals on workshops relating to citizenship rights which they wish to organise.

The Participation Programme of 2000-2001

The following institutions have reacted to our letters informing them that they can access Funds under their approved programmes:

  1. National Library Services - the two computers have been purchased and delivered. QUANTUM Associates has been contracted to install the network.

  2. National Records Service - Hi-Tech Engineering has provided the computer, printer and accessories.

  3. The Department of Information has identified HOLRON Computing for the provision of the equipment required for the preservation of photographs. HOLRON has supplied the equipment.

  4. The Department of State for Youth and Sports has informed us that they are making the necessary arrangements for the procurement of the requested equipment.

  5. Mr Abdoulie Bayo of Tanje Museum is making arrangements for the procurement of solar panels for the water supply system at the museum.

Plans to Mount Exhibition Of ISESCO Materials

Last June arrangements were made to mount an exhibition in this country on behalf of ISESCO. In the end it was cancelled. The materials, which were to be exhibited, are still in my office. I have contacted the Senior Education Officer responsible for Madrassas and we plan to meet the members of the Association of Madrassas so that the exhibition can be held before schools close. In fact, the exhibition will be held at the Tallinding Islamic Institute from 16 to 19 July 2001.