JOURNEY TO THE WEST

By Mariama Jammeh (Gilanka), Gambia College

On the Sandy shores of ambition ,
Blew a cool breeze of determination
Risen winds of expectations to make a change before my destiny embraces its destination.

Eyes orbit and rotate,
My mind controlled and dictated
My feet to the routes of the west.

I struggled to conquer,
Cried and whisper
To gain the beauty of the west that glitters.

I’d knocked doors and gate,
Escape traps and bait,
Walked and hurtled run and gait for success of the west.

The Dalasi I degraded made me a beggar,
The home I abandoned made me a hawker
And today a regretful soul forever.

I was raped by the dwellers of my destination,
My cage filled with bastards,
I am left a baby mama.

I’ve come back to you oh mother,
With a broken chaste,
Empty veins and joyless heart.
My journey to the west,
A hot soup stuck in the chest.

This is my journey to the west.

(Ends)

MY PERSPECTIVE: THE TRAGEDY OF GAMBIA COLLEGE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION

By Bakary Dibba, Gambia College

 “The Gambia College is one of the country’s biggest tertiary learning institution, comprises four schools namely; school of education, school of agriculture, school of public health and school of Nursing and Midwifery. Each of these four schools have their respective Heads who oversee the affairs of their schools. But all answerable to the Principle.

 However, school of education is the most well-known school in the college and with a dominant population n of students. The famous school known for training, molding, and producing young teachers who served the length and breadth of the Gambia and immensely contributed in the socioeconomic development of the country at large.

Due to her famousness and credibility in producing well competent teachers, people from different parts of the country race to secure an admission in this noble school. But today, an irony of the history is prevailing. The accredited learning institution, specifically school of education has become physically cripple pernicious to the core.

Comparing it to the other sister schools within, in term of organization, mode of operations to name a few, is the most weakest in her daily functioning. The serious tragedy is that students in the school of education in most of the time sat to their examination for the whole programs duration and they cannot even see or know their Marks.

You will succumb with me that exams are not only given to determine promotion from one level to another but as well as for the students to know their strength and weakness, and further work harder to improve on the areas needed to be. Frankly, it’s disheartened, sad and to even cap it up, by saying is very unprofessional to asses’ students and refused to give them feedback, not ones not twice but for the whole three years program duration.

 More so, you most also succumb that feedbacks from exams help a lot, new paces are created by learners to ensure improvement in the weak areas. But the funniest in this school is to complete a whole two/three year’s program without knowing your faith. The final year students including myself are currently in Limbo, this year mark three consecutive years from our started year.

Our problems cannot be sorted by the college administration, we are currently under depression and mentally cumbersome. No one can predict what will be next. What we are currently seeing is not satisfactory at all, fails, IC or Blank and missed grading.

Believe it or not, and am to quoted from experienced tenured as education minister under STA, Several consultation were been made by student leaders from various offices in concerned and the responded was always like we are on it, very soon. But how soon shall it be can’t be told, till today the trend remained as usual.

 This shows that the Gambia College is not serious in record keeping. In fact this seems our records thus means nothing to them from what I can concluded. This is a serious tragedy, and what is even more tragedy here about the college administration is not only there system of operations, but to lament the Truth, is that the occupants of certain portfolios are so incompetent, lazy and self-centered, such kind of people needed to be flushes out from Gambia College.

A serious reforms is needed in all aspects. Ranging from system which includes the mode of operands, human and material resources all, in doing so the noble institution shall regain her credibility known for before, otherwise the story remains the same. The future and interest of the Gambia most be put into consideration by every patriotic Gambian.

Furthermore, Record keeping and preservation must be put as priority in the school of education, the plight of students must be respected. The Marks most be publish at the end of every assessment (exam), that will help to encouraged and promote performance of students. Finally, I dare the authorities in concerns to build compassion for students and respect their plights whenever they raised their voice.

And I must say until we work for change and only see the interest and future of this Gambia, we shall never get to where we aimed, for better Gambia College to be made we must all fear God and do what’s right and nothing but what’s only the right thing. I thank you all, God bless you and God bless the Gambia College!”

Bakary Dibba Finalist Student School of Education Gambia College