The trial of the former two Gambia College lecturers yesterday resumed at Banjul Magistrates’ Court before Senior Magistrate Lamin George.

Mr. Lamin BT Sanyang and Abdoulie Bah are standing trial for allegedly giving false information to a public servant while they were working as lecturers at The Gambia College.

The Wednesday proceedings saw the cross-examination of the prosecution’s first witness, Ms Isatou Ndow, by the defence counsel Lawyer Lamin Camara.

Ms Ndow told the court that she is the Head of School of Education. She asserted that as head of School of Education she co-ordinates the programmes and activities of the school.

“I have both primary and higher teacher certificates and other higher relevant areas”. This was an answer she gave to a question as to what is her qualification.

She told the court that she has been working with the first accused Lamin BT Sanyang since she was appointed as head of School of Education in 2005. When asked as to whether the accused had been a competent lecturer, she replied in negative, adducing that to her own terms the accused had not been a competent lecturer, though he has the qualification. 

“But to my term he is not competent.” She asserted that the accused teaches English language.

She told the court that as a good lecturer you are expected to deliver your services in the way is expected of you as a lecturer.

At that juncture, the defence counsel, lawyer Lamin Camara, applied for the case to be adjourned. He told the court that he is making the application for adjournment because he was just coming into the case, and he needs time to prepare himself.

The case was then adjourned to 10th September 2008 for continuation.

The trial of Lamin BT Sanyang and Abdoulie Baldeh, former lecturers at GambiaCollege, opened on Monday before Magistrate Lamin George of the Banjul Magistrates Court.

The duo is standing trial for allegedly giving false information to the Office of the President, that the Principal of the college, Alieu Badara Senghorr, and Ms Isatou Ndow, Head of School of Education, committed malpractices and unlawfully terminated their services with the said college.

In her testimony PW1, Ms Isatou Ndow, told the court that she is a civil servant working with GambiaCollege and that she headed the School of Education at the college. She said that as the head of School of Education, she co-ordinated the activities and programmes of the said department at the college. She added that all the teacher training such as Primary Teachers Certificate, High Teacher Certificate and the Early year training programme are been co-ordinated by the school of Education. She identified the accused persons as being former lecturers at Gambia College School of Education, adding that Mr Sanyang taught English while Mr Baldeh taught Science.

Further testifying, Ms Ndow told the court that she was appointed Head of School of Education at GambiaCollege in March 2005. She stated that when she took over as the Head of School of Education, she found that the 1staccused, Mr. Sanyang, was having problem with HTC students and that he had refused to teach for sometime. She revealed that the students wrote a petition letter complaining and she called for the accused so as to talk the matter over with him, noting that the accused subsequently pledged to resume teaching but failed to. Consequently, she went on, she wrote to the Principal recommending that action be taken to address the situation as the students were still upset. The Principal, she adduced, thereafter wrote to the accused but he still refused to teach, thus necessitating the stoppage of his teaching allowance. She said Mr. Sanyang persisted in the refusal to teach and subsequently his service was terminated with GambiaCollege.

The case was at that juncture adjourned to 27thAugust 2008.

Two Gambia College lecturers, Lamin BT Sanyang and Abdoulie Baldeh, who were charged with giving false information to State House were, yesterday, arraigned before Magistrate Lamin George of the Banjul Magistrates Court.

The duo pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.
In her evidence-in-chief, Mrs Isatou Ndow, head of school of Education at The Gambia College, Brikama campus, and the first prosecution witness (PW1), told the court that she knew the duo in the dock at the Gambia College as lecturers. Mrs Ndow said as head of school of Education, her duties entail coordinating programmes and other activities in the college.

Mrs Ndow identified the Lamin BT Sanyang as an English lecturer in the HTC programme and Mr Abdoulie Baldeh as a lecturer in both the HTC and PTC programmes.  The head of school of Education said she was appointed to the said position in 2005 and that she inherited from her predecessor problems caused by one of the accused, Lamin BT Sanyang.

According to Mrs Ndow, she tried to solve the problems of the accused but was unsuccessful leading to the  termination of his services in March 2008.
She recalled numerous occasions when she confronted the accused to solve his problems, especially with the students of the HTC who put up a petition against him for refusing to teach, late submission of student grades, refusal to obey most of the school rules and that at one time, the accused attempted to jump on her when she confronted him concerning the late submission of grades in 2007. According to her those same grades have still not been submitted by the accused.

Mrs Isatou Ndow, acknowledged that she was once invited to the Serious Crime Unit at the Police Headquarters in Banjul in connection with the petition sent to State House by the accused persons regarding the alleged termination of their services.

According to her, she made a statement there after which she was granted bail and her passport returned to her.  At this juncture the presidng magistrate, Lamin George, adjourned the case to 27th August, 2008.

Magistrate Lamin George of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court presided over the case.[if supportFields]>tc "Magistrate Lamin George of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court presided over the case."

The duo were charged with giving false information to public servant contrary to section 114(a) of the criminal code cap 10 volume III laws of The Gambia 1990.[if supportFields]>tc "The duo were charged with giving false information to public servant contrary to section 114(a) of the criminal code cap 10 volume III laws of The Gambia 1990."

Specifically, they are both alleged to have on 6thMay 2008 falsely informed the Office of the President that both Dr Alieu Badara Senghor, the principal of Gambia College and Ms Isatou Ndow, Head of the School of Education, committed malpractices and unlawfully terminated their services from the said college.[if supportFields]>tc "Specifically, they are both alleged to have on 6th May 2008 falsely informed the Office of the President that both Dr Alieu Badara Senghor, the principal of Gambia College and Ms Isatou Ndow, Head of the School of Education, committed malpractices and unlawfully terminated their services from the said college."

Both accused persons vehemently denied the charge, and were then each granted court bail in the sum of D50,000 with one Gambian each as a surety.[if supportFields]>tc "Both accused persons vehemently denied the charge, and were then each granted court bail in the sum of D50,000 with one Gambian each as a surety."

The case was adjourned until 18thAugust 2008.[if supportFields]>tc "The case was adjourned until 18th August 2008."

2 Gambia College Lecturers in trouble over false information[if supportFields]>tc "2 Gambia College Lecturers in trouble over false information"

By Modou Sanyang

Two former GambiaCollege lecturers Lamin BT Sanyang and Abdoulie Baldeh were last Friday arraigned on a charge of giving false information to the Office of the President.[if supportFields]>tc "Two former Gambia College lecturers Lamin BT Sanyang and Abdoulie Baldeh were last Friday arraigned on a charge of giving false information to the Office of the President."

Magistrate Lamin George of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court presided over the case.[if supportFields]>tc "Magistrate Lamin George of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court presided over the case."

The duo were charged with giving false information to public servant contrary to section 114(a) of the criminal code cap 10 volume III laws of The Gambia 1990.[if supportFields]>tc "The duo were charged with giving false information to public servant contrary to section 114(a) of the criminal code cap 10 volume III laws of The Gambia 1990."

Specifically, they are both alleged to have on 6thMay 2008 falsely informed the Office of the President that both Dr Alieu Badara Senghor, the principal of Gambia College and Ms Isatou Ndow, Head of the School of Education, committed malpractices and unlawfully terminated their services from the said college.[if supportFields]>tc "Specifically, they are both alleged to have on 6th May 2008 falsely informed the Office of the President that both Dr Alieu Badara Senghor, the principal of Gambia College and Ms Isatou Ndow, Head of the School of Education, committed malpractices and unlawfully terminated their services from the said college."

Both accused persons vehemently denied the charge, and were then each granted court bail in the sum of D50,000 with one Gambian each as a surety.[if supportFields]>tc "Both accused persons vehemently denied the charge, and were then each granted court bail in the sum of D50,000 with one Gambian each as a surety."

The case was adjourned until 18thAugust 2008.[if supportFields]>tc "The case was adjourned until 18th August 2008."

Banutu Business College (BBC) is an institution that has a particular distinction in offering skilled trades to its pupils in the form of learning and discipline. The college recently ended a week-long for members of various security units, civil servants and the commercial industry on leadership quality at its campus in Lamin.

The theme of the training was appreciative enquiry.

According to the organisers, this opportunity will allow the participants make better use of the positive things available to them at the community level, institutional level and departmental level to help develop this country.

Mr. Micheal Banutu Gomez, president Banutu Business College, posited that the workshop was geared towards helping Gambians start to appreciate themselves, their culture and their environment. Mr. Gomez maintained that the training will create an opportunity for dialogue, partnership and effective team work which will foster accountability, dedication and more responsibility.

Mr Gomez maintained that this kind of training will also quell the negative stereotyping whereby certain things are attributed to particular groups of people for our social ills and instead look for positive solutions for better a Gambia.

For his part, the facilitator of the training Dr. Berhe Habte Giorg, a professor at Rowan University U.S.A, acknowledged the fact that working with people closely in order to implement strategies requires much time. He further stated that the workshop is to train agents of change. Dr Berhe added that the success of the training would be measured by how participants begin to transform what they learn into practice.

Mr. Lamin Jammeh, the Principal of Marsden Nursery School in Tallinding, recently visited Marlborough College in the United Kingdom. The trip was aimed at strengthening the bilateral relationship and long time relationship of the two sister schools.

In an interview with The Point, Mr. Jammeh revealed that his invitation was made possible through an invitation extended to him by his friends at Marlborough. According to him, his visit to the UK was fruitful and educational. He described those who hosted him in the UK as, “good, generous friends.” He said while in the UK he had the opportunity to visit Marlborough College. When asked where apart from the college he visited he said that he had also visited the local park and forest which is a conservation area. He said he found this excursion to be most interesting. He also visited the local Westrop Primary School which he said was of particular interest because of the teaching methods employed there.

Mr. Jammeh stated that his school is also linked with Highworth Nursery School in the UK. In relation to this link Mr. Jammeh met with Mr. R Davis the Lions Club President and also the committee of the Highworth Lions Club to discuss the possibility of making the link a life-long one.

In conclusion Mr. Jammeh described the get-together held in his honour by friends at the 4th Highworth Rainbow. At the event displays were put on to show appreciation for his visit. He commended all the people he met in the UK for their generosity of spirit and the warm welcome they extended to him.

The students of Ardingly College, Sussex England yesterday paid a courtesy call to The Point Newspaper at its office in

The students were led by the teachers Father Ian Colsou and Ms Judy Vatcher.

Speaking to this Reporter after their audience with the Managing Director of The Point Mr. Pap Saine who welcome them to the company, the visitors informed me of the purpose of their visit to The Gambia.

According to Father Ian, they came with 22 students between the ages of 16 and 17 years. He revealed that they have been coming to The Gambia for eight years now. He said that they would be staying in the country for ten days. During this time their students will be teaching science in Gambian schools. So far he said, they have been teaching at Katong and Old Jeshwang Lower Basic schools as well as at the St. Johns School for the Deaf.

For her part, Madam Judy acknowledged the welcome accorded to them by Gambian schools. “ We are really humbled by the kindness shown to us by students and their teachers,” she said.

“We are very excited, most of us have not been to Africa before, what we see on television about Africa is always negative but the story is completely different with what we have seen,” were the words of the students.

They described their trip as very interesting as they also learn new things from their Gambian counterparts. “We learn things like sign language, story telling and enjoy the hospitality of the Gambian people,” said one of the students. The students also noticed that their teaching methods in UK are different to what they have seen in The Gambia. “Students here are much more willing to learn,” said another student.

Ten out of the 22 student in the country visited The Point with their teachers. They are Chrishau Emmench, Chris Preston Bell, Charlie Dumeresque, Hugo Goddle, Tsmis Woodgate, Caittin Forbes, Lucy Coombs, Poppy Robathan, Luzern Chan and Millie Willeins.  

Gambia College is holding a graduation ceremony this month for the students who have successfully completed their three years of studying with the college.

Preparations are currently under way ahead of this overwhelmingly significant event in the calendar of The Gambia College. The Principal of the college, Dr. Badou AB Senghore and the Head of School for Education and Agriculture, Madame Isatou Ndow confirmed that The Gambia College is working hard to hold the graduation ceremony on the 5th of April, 2008 in the college grounds.

When speaking to some outgoing students recently they told this reporter that the graduation ceremony will be a historic event in their lives. They added that they are very grateful to the lecturers and administration of The Gambia College for giving them knowledge and support during their three years of studies. “We are ready to serve the knowledge we have gained here in the college to the children of The Gambia”, they promised.

Meanwhile, The Gambia College has introduced a new course in animal husbandry to the School of Agriculture.

On Tuesday, 4th March 2008, The Gambia College, Brikama Campus in the Western Region held an Art exhibition on all aspects of design, paint, carving and sculpture and an Education Forum on the important role of teaching aids in the teaching and learning process, especially the improvisation of teaching aids by teachers. The forum, which was held in The Gambia College Auditorium, saw the Director of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Jim Jobe representing the Department of State for Education (DOSE), Hon. Haddy Nyang Njie, National Assembly Member for Jeshwang representing the President, Dr. Yaya Jammeh, Mr. Mam Tamsir Njie, Head of Education and Broadcasting representing the Vice President, Dr. Ajaratou Isatou Njie Saidy, Madame Bouy, Director of Region 2, Madame Isatou Ndow, Head of Gambia College, Mr. Demba Ceesay, Registrar, Gambia College as well as a cross-section of staff, students and other dignitaries.

Introducing the dignitaries on the occasion, Mr. Masanneh J. Ceesay, the Chairman of the Forum described Mr. Rex Bojang, the Art Lecturer of the Gambia College who made it possible for the students to produce the superb pieces of art as a “distinguished” academic and an “encyclopedia”. “We all know that Rex Bojang is an artist and has a vast knowledge of art”, he said. According to him students have demonstrated extraordinary skills and aptitude in the art department. In delivering her keynote address Madame Isatou Ndow explained the significance of teachers as well as teaching materials. To her, teachers are the building foundation for young achievers. She added that the forum’s aim was not long speeches but a display of what students have learnt in the college.

For his part, the Registrar of the Gambia College said that education is the key to meeting the challenges of a rapidly developing world. “This exhibition today will no doubt earn the students a skill in exhibiting their talents and improvisation in teaching.”

Also speaking at the forum was Mr. Jobe, the Representative from DOSE. He emphasised the importance of education, saying it “cannot be overstated”. According to him improvisation of learning materials and teaching aids is of paramount relevance in the acquisition of knowledge. Mr. Jobe advised students to always be innovative and creative and the development of the nation will lie in their hands.

Hon. Haddy Nyang Njie and Mam. Tamsir Njie expressed similar sentiments. Musa Fofana, the Information Minister of the Gambia College, delivered the vote of thanks.