Posted by CBEMN on/at 5:14 PM
This profile was prepared by the Headmaster of Wellingara, Mr. Badjie. I look forward to the day when we have a proper web site that will enable us to fund raise for the school. This will be coming soon. In the meantime, I will post about the school here periodically. Please read the last post to get the context regarding this most wonderful school!
"Wellingara Lower Basic School is an elementary school which was established in September 2004. This was a result of a high population density in the area with a lot of small children who required to be schooled. There are a lot of nursery schools (i.e. early childhood development centers) in the area and well over 300 small children attained the age of 7 years and require transit from Nursery school to Wellingara Lower Basic School every year.
The school has 2 buildings with 6 classrooms in each. Since the school opened in September 2004 it has been rapidly expanding in terms of pupil population. An average of 250 pupils are enrolled in the school annually but the infrastructure development has not matched with the enrolment rate. As a result, there has emerged an acute accommodation constraint which requires serious attention.
The school numbers stand at 1373 pupils, comprised of 655 boys and 718 girls. There are 30 members of staff in the school. The pupils are housed in 12 classrooms for lessons with half of the school coming the in the morning (i.e. from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm an the other half come in the afternoon from 1:30 pm to 6:30 pm). Even with this arrangement, the classes have an average of 57 pupils which makes them very congested and too much for the individual teacher.
This, not withstanding, another batch of over 300 young students (i.e. 7 years old) are on the waiting list for enrolment into Grade One in September 2009. With all 12 classrooms fully utilized in both morning and afternoon shifts, the management committee is faced with the task of making available at least 4 classrooms before September 2009.
In view of the low socio-economic status of the students' families, the committee seeks to solicit support from any party, individual, organizations and other groups to facilitate the construction of at least 4 classrooms for the needy children of Wellingara Lower Basic School.
In the school the pupils undergo a 6 year course (i.e from grade 1-6). They are taught the core subjects, which are English :Language, Mathematics, Science and Social and Environmental Studies. Religious knowledge, art and crafts, and sports lessons are taught but at most twice in a week. Pupils in the school take part in different extra-curricular activities. These include the Cultural and Drama Group, Girl Guides, Boy Scouts, Red Cross and the Environmental Group. All these groups play a vital role in the physical, socio-cultural and educational development of the students.
There is a formidable school football [soccer] team named the Wellingara Stars*. Athletic competitions are also held in the school during which the 4 "District" houses (i.e. Yellow Kunda, Red Kunda, White Kunda and Green Kunda) compete.
The school is situated in the middle of the Village very close to a market. Because the school is not fenced round so the school ground is made almost a public thorough-face as passers by and market vendors pass through the school on their way to and from the market. This has created insecurity for the school property and causes disturbances during the teaching and learning process.
With a view to making the learning environment more conducive for the students, the school committee is as well seeking support to fence around the school perimeter. With a perimeter fence, the school environment could better be enhanced by making a garden and planting fruit trees and ornamental flowers which could in addition serve as useful aids for science and related lessons.
The Government of The Gambia provides textbooks and other instructional materials for the school. However, the pupils need support in the provision of exercise books, pencils, pens, erasers and other stationary and sporting materials (including first aid equipment)."
So begins the fund-raising for the Wellingara Lower Basic School.
Stay Tuned....
*When we were at the school, we were asked to re-name the school's football (soccer) team. After some thought, I chose the Wellingara Stars, since one of the schools we plan to twin with in Canada, Sambro Elementary, has a hockey team called the Sambro Stars. The Wellingara Stars has a nice ring to it, and was also symbolic of the one sky under which we all reside here on Earth. Good luck to both the Sambro and Wellingara Stars!
2 comments:
I really enjoyed reading this because my son from Ian Forsythe Gr. 4 is a student who rec'd a letter and new pen pal from Welingara Lower Basic school. I'm amazed at the excellent use of english and neatness of print in the letter. My son could learn a thing or two about not only penmanship but also the value of education, which is not lost on these Gambian students. Thank you so much for opening a door for not only my family but to the community of Kombo North District
Thanks for your comment. I hope that we will be able to maintain this relationship that has been initiated for many years to come.
Cathy Conrad
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