SUPPORTING THE TEACHERS

However, a building is just the start: through sponsors in Yalding we have trained three teachers and pay their salaries.  The money is sent regularly to the school bank account, rather than to individuals and we visit the school at least twice a year to ensure that the money is being spent on the prescribed target. 

In December 2003 we appointed an experienced head teacher and we have built two further classrooms, requiring two more teachers.  As a policy, class sizes are limited to 35 pupils (a typical class in The Gambia is usually well over 60!) in order to maintain the highest possible standard of education. 

The aim of GamBLE is to make Yalding School, Farato (as the villagers have named it) the best of its kind in the country.  In September 2004, we sponsored a 3-week trip for Saffie Bob Jobe, the head teacher, to stay in Yalding in order to observe and participate in the teaching at the village pre-school and primary school, both of which have received excellent OfSTED reports on recent inspections.  What better places to continue professional development!
See her letter about this experience

Graduation day  

Newly qualified teachers
Headteacher Saffe Bob Jobe 

WORKING WITH TEACHERS AND PUPILS

Since April 2003 GamBLE supporters have visited Farato village.  The first group were scouts who worked with Farato villagers painting the school and later they camped with Gambian scouts in the bush.  Since then 17 other supporters have worked in the school and we stay in the centre of the village managing without running water or electricity whilst being surrounded by Gambian warmth, laughter and generosity.  The villagers are thrilled that so many people from UK want to spend their time in Farato.

During our visits we support the teachers by taking materials and showing them how to use local materials to initiate the pupils into the joys of spatter painting, play dough modeling, paper weaving, construction toys and a variety of puzzles and games, singing and PE.  

We have built a climbing frame a pair of swings and a sound bar to encourage the children (and teachers) to learn through play and experience rather than sitting in long rows chanting numbers and the alphabet.  

Through the Gambian College, where teachers are trained, we follow the Gambian government’s directive, which is to encourage teachers to adopt a child-centred approach to the curriculum.  

We have visited other schools in need of support and run a series of teachers’ workshops to enable these teachers to have a practical understanding of this new style of teaching.

We urgently need the following help
 
  Sponsors for Teachers and 
teacher training; 
 email: gambleproject@aol.com
  phone 01622 814267

Sainobou's Graduation day

Teachers

Abibatou continues to develop into a very inspiring and enthusiastic teacher.  We are paying for her to start training in August as we feel she shows potential as an Early Years teacher. 

Gradually the teachers are gaining confidence in working at a more child-centred level which follows the guidelines set by the Gambian government.

We appointed Jainabou as the fourth teacher.