The Seven Days Adventist Ebenezer Educational Centre (SDAEEC), on Thursday, held its graduation and annual speech and prize giving ceremony for its Nursery, Junior and Senior Secondary School, at a colourful ceremony held at the school premises in New Jeshwang.

Speaking at the occasion, Hon. Haddy Nyang-Jagne, National Assembly Member (NAM) for Jeshwang constituency, who was also the guest speaker of the occasion, noted that, graduation ceremonies are meant to reward students for years of academic success, adding that, it also marks the day when students are prepared to face and overcome the future challenges.

She advised students to be worthy ambassadors of the school, as they are graduating with all the basic academic knowledge. According to her, the school has already laid a solid foundation that will no doubt prepare them enough to overcome the challenges that lie ahead.  “You have to lived up to expectation, and you have made your parents and the school which gave you knowledge, to become proud of you,’’ She stressed. Honourable Jagne, a former teacher, who taught for six years at the school, lauded the move made by the SDA in giving girls education a priority in the school, noting that it is in line with President Jammeh’s quest to empower girls education.

While assuring them of her unflinching support to the school, Hon. Haddy Nyang-Jagne hailed the school for its teacher capacity building initiative.

Delivering his annual speech, Prosper Pinpim, principal of SDA Senior Secondary School, said his centre aims to bring quality education to the doorsteps of the community, especially girls, noting that since the inception of the school, there has always been a greater number of females to male students. This, he said, attest sto the fact that girls’ education is their first priority.

Mr Pinpim disclosed that his centre is known for its numerous sponsorship packages, and as such, he went on, the centre is currently sponsoring over 250 students. He added that the centre can now boast of over 1400 students compared to 100 students when it started operations in 1983. Highlighting some of the projects in the school, Principal Pinpim said that the school owns two computer centres for both the staff and the students.  “The school has also put in place an internet cafe service, grocery for students, teachers, workers, as well as the general public”, he revealed.

Considering the welfare of the students from the provinces, who might find it difficult to have guardians to stay with in the urban areas, Mr Pinpim noted that his centre will soon address that situation, adding that two blocks (storey buildings) are currently under construction, to house at least 200 girls in the centre.

Mr Pinpim appealed to the parents to enrol their children in the school. He used the occasion to commend Pastor EP Smith, director of SDA mission station, for his support to the school, and also the partnership program between his centre and The Gambia project group, as well as Tarmworth and Lichfield College in UK, respectively.