Our condition is the worst in the country 

Teachers posted in the Central River Division have protested their living 
condition, saying it must be the worst in the whole country. Our reporter who 
was on a tour of the CRD said teachers in different schools from lower, upper 
to basic schools described their working conditions as appalling and 
miserable. Some among them described their postings to schools in the area as 
a punishment from educational authorities. The teachers who spoke under 
condition of anonymity for fear of “serious consequences from the top” said 
as a result of their deteriorating situation, education in the area has 
recorded very slow progress in some areas but non in most places. 

They attacked the government’s education policy of introducing the basic 
circle system, which they described as the worst initiative to be introduced 
in the education system. One teacher pointed out that a major problem facing 
the education system in CRD is the lack of qualified personnel and the 
scarcity of learning materials. “Some schools have only one or two qualified 
teachers with the rest Grade 12 graduates” he posited. Other teachers gave 
graphic details of the general problem they face tow of which are poor 
accommodation or late payment of their salaries. 

One of them said he has to trek a four-kilometer route from his village of 
residence to school daily. “Although headmaster is understanding of our 
problem, it is not enough” he said. Some disgruntled teachers accused the 
Education Department of overusing them by assigning them to run two classes, “
which is unacceptable”. A headmaster of one of the basic circle schools told 
this reporter that “honestly education is failing in CRD because of the basic 
circle system “How can you expand the school by erecting buildings and change 
to basic circle system while teachers are lacking, particularly qualified ones
” he inquired. 

This reporter was also taken on a conducted tour of the headmaster’s school, 
where damaged furniture were plenty. Eight students share one desk, sitting 
on opposite sides. A female teacher in one class explained how difficult it 
is to teach “under such a frustrating situation”. She said students complain 
to her for more tables. This reporter also visited a particular basic circle 
school where he found four tables in each class accommodating more than forty 
children. According to the headmaster each teacher is assigned to teach two 
subjects, while students rotate from class to class for lesson because of 
insufficient furniture. 

He added that the dearth in teachers has meant that he is running the school 
without a woodwork and metalwork teacher. Students who spoke to this reporter 
described the situation as unbearable and vowed to transfer to schools in 
Regions 1 and 2. A female student said providing free education for girl in 
region 5 and 6 would be ridiculous if their living condition remains poor, 
bad and frustrating. Teachers have warned that they would resign their jobs 
if the government does not look into their condition. 

When this reported contacted the secretary general of The Gambia Teachers’ 
Union Abuboucarr Jeng said the union would visit CRD soon to assess the 
situation. He made it categorically clear that it is not the role of the 
union to post teachers to schools, but it is its responsibility to solicit 
the attention of the Education Department to some problem.He said they have 
received similar complaints from URD and part of the CRD and had compiled a 
report on those concerns and sent to the Education Department. 



    
    

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