Archive for the 'Gambia' Category
Posted by sociolingo on April 17, 2008
Source: APA
65 Gambian students to study in Venezuela
APA-Banjul (The Gambia) Sixty-five Gambian students will soon be leaving for Venezuela to pursue further studies in the sciences, engineering, medical and technological fields.
The students were shown on national television last night when they called on President Yahya Jammeh.
They are the largest group to go abroad on a scholarship scheme and the first to Venezuela.
Their selection is as a result of President Jammeh\’s intervention with the Venezuelan authorities.
The Gambia has only one university and was without one until recently.
The Gambia and Venezuela have a formal agreement on cooperation in various fields including education.
The scholarships come under the Venezuelan International Scholarship Scheme and those selected are high school graduates who applied for the scholarships in an open competition and interviewed by the scholarship awarding body in Banjul.
Jammeh admonished them to work hard and emulate the example of Gambians on scholarship in Taiwan whose performance has been so good that the Taiwanese authorities no longer question qualifications of Gambian applicants for university study there.
The students were accompanied to State House by Higher Education Minister Crispen Grey-Johnson and other high-ranking officials.
Jammeh gave each student $500 and a lap top computer.
SC/pm/APA 2008-04-17 
Posted in AFRICA, AFRICAN COUNTRIES, AFRICAN EDUCATION, African higher education, EDUCATION, Gambia | No Comments »
Posted by sociolingo on April 16, 2008
This book is a general one but there is one chapter
Colin Brock, James Dada & Tida Jata. Selected Perspectives on Education in West Africa, with Special Reference to the Gambia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria
which is relevant to African interests
Source: SYMPOSIUM BOOKS
PO Box 204, Didcot, Oxford OX11 9ZQ, United Kingdom
info@symposium-books.co.uk
Education in the Muslim World
different perspectives
Edited by ROSARII GRIFFIN
2006 paperback 344 pages US$56.00
ISBN 978-1-873927-55-7
IN STOCK NOW FREE delivery on all orders
All books are sent AIRMAIL worldwide
Click here to view further information and to order this book
This collection of articles is an eclectic selection of studies of a range of educational situations relating to Muslim populations in different parts of the world. It is intended as a selection and in no way contains any overarching theme, other than illustrating the wide diversity of situations and issues relating to education in Muslim societies. The contributors provide a wide and fascinating range of insights and problems, many of which apply to other communities as well; there is much to be shared and celebrated between ‘east’ and ‘west’, but only with greater understanding. It is hoped this book will contribute something towards that understanding.
Colin Brock, James Dada & Tida Jatta. Selected Perspectives on Education in West Africa, with Special Reference to the Gambia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria
Posted in ACADEMIC, AFRICA, AFRICAN COUNTRIES, AFRICAN EDUCATION, African Islam, African papers reports, African religion, EDUCATION, Gambia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone | 2 Comments »
Posted by sociolingo on April 8, 2008
Source: APA
Week-long “Roots” festival to be staged in Gambia end of May
APA-Banjul (The Gambia) The Gambia government has begun the sensitization and mobilization of the population for the observance of the 9th Roots Festival, a biennial event which will be staged this year from 30 May to 7 June 2008.
In a television discussion programme on Monday night, the director general of the National Council for Arts and Culture and the chairperson of the Festival Organizing Committee said the campaign has began early because the programme planned for visitors from the diaspora in search of their roots is unprecedented and designed to involve people in all parts of the country.
The festival will start on 30 May with a carnival procession from the outskirts of the city of Banjul into the July 22nd Square, according to the programme.
There will then be a welcome ceremony at the square featuring an address by President Yahya Jammeh.
This will be followed by a display of Gambian culture with performances, dance and song by the country\’s different ethnic groups as well as groups from countries in the sub-region.
The next day will feature a colourful regatta on the Gambia river, including a boat race.
In the subsequent days there will be a trip by boat across the river to Juffure, the celebrated birth place of Kunta Kinteh, who was captured in the 19th century and taken into slavery in United States of America.
Centuries later, his great great grand son, Alex Haley, immortalized the story of his enslavement in a family saga televised in as series titled “Roots” and also documented in a book of the same title.
The television series mesmerized America and became a worldwide phenomenon.
More cultural events will follow in Juffure where the visitors will be able to call on the Lady Alkalo, the village chief.
Another boat trip will bring the visitors to a wharf town in Bwiam, across the river, and through the Bintangbolong, a tributary of the river Gambia, to join road transport for a short overland trip to Kaninlai, President Jammeh\’s village of birth.
Another destination is to the island town of Janjanbureh, in Central River Region, where cultural performances will be staged.
The programme will climax in Kanilai where initiation ceremonies into adulthood will be staged for the visitors.
The visitors, mainly descendents of ancestors from Africa, will be coming from the United States and United Kingdom.
SC/pm/APA 2008-04-08
Posted in AFRICA, AFRICAN COUNTRIES, African festivals, Gambia, HISTORY | 1 Comment »
Posted by sociolingo on April 5, 2008
Posted in ACADEMIC, AFRICA, AFRICAN COUNTRIES, AFRICAN ECONOMICS, African economy, African papers reports, African poverty, African tourism, ECONOMICS, Gambia | No Comments »
Posted by sociolingo on April 1, 2008
Source: APA
Workshop on rural finance opens in Banjul
APA-Banjul (The Gambia) A three-day sub-regional workshop on the rural finance challenges facing Africa was opened in Banjul on Monday by the Central Bank of the Gambia governor Momodou Bamba Saho. Saho told the participants drawn from the Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana and Nigeria, that it was important to discuss and share experiences about “new initiatives for the development of sustainable micro-finance operations in the sub-region and beyond.\” He noted that micro-finance is widely recognized as one of the tools in the fight against poverty as it “can empower poor people in improving their livelihood.” He said limited access to finance lowers welfare and hinders poverty reduction and the emergence of an economically active middle class. “More fundamentally, inadequate financial services constraints economic growth,” he said. He said the Gambia is typical of most developing countries where the majority is poor and predominantly engaged in primary production. Saho said the largest of this production sector “does not have access to even basic payment services or savings accounts. ” He said this mass of small and informal enterprises also lack access to credit which hinder their growth and development. “As stakeholders of the financial sector, I believe it is our collective goal in ensuring a stable and viable finance system in our various countries,” he said.
SC/pm/APA 2008-04-01
Posted in AFRICA, AFRICAN COUNTRIES, AFRICAN ECONOMICS, African economy, African poverty, African rural development, African workshops seminars courses training, ECONOMICS, Gambia | No Comments »
Posted by sociolingo on March 16, 2008
Source: APA
Gambia central bank reports on performance of economy in 2007, 2008
APA-Banjul (The Gambia) The Central Bank of the Gambia on Friday, in a report cast against a background of a revised growth projection of 4.1 per cent for the global economy in 2008, reported on the Gambian economy’s performance both last year and this year.
Speaking at the quarterly briefings of the monetary policy committee at bank head office in Banjul, the governor, Mr. Momodou Bamba Saho, on Friday presented to the press a report showing that the economy is forecast to grow at 6.5 per cent in 2008, down from 6.9 per cent in 2007 “premised on decreased activity in building and construction and the groundnut trade”.
He said the government’s budget registered a surplus of 0.1 per cent of GDP including grants in 2007, while without grants, he said the budget is in deficit by 1.0 per cent. Domestic revenue rose by 13.7 to 3.4 billion dalasi (approx. $12million), 106.1 million dalasi higher than estimated. But despite the increase in capital expenditure and net lending was below budget projections.
Read the full report
Posted in AFRICA, AFRICAN COUNTRIES, AFRICAN ECONOMICS, African economy, ECONOMICS, Gambia | 3 Comments »
Posted by sociolingo on February 28, 2008
Source: APA
Gambian university graduates 176 bachelors degree holders
APA-Banjul (The Gambia) The University of the Gambia (UTG) held its annual convocation programme on Saturday to give awards and bachelors degrees to 172 graduating students, with the well attended event presided over by the Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh, in his capacity as Chancellor of the University.
Also in attendance were Professor Andreas Steigen, the Vice Chancellor, academic staff, students and their parents as well as members of the visiting reggae group, the Morgan Heritage band from Jamaica, who put up a performance during the ceremony.
The graduants included 12 medical doctors from the school of medicine and several others in various other disciplines.
In his address at the occasion, President Jammeh said the university was central to the country’s development and his government would not relent in its efforts to see to its growth and development. He disclosed that he was aware of the lack of sufficient resources for the university but said many of the institution’s problems would be solved once they moved to their new campus already under construction.
President Jammeh said, “it is only through education that we can fight our enemies in Africa,” as he underlined the importance his government attached to education, stressing that “it is not by politics but only through education that we can develop in Africa and rid the continent of ignorance, disease and poverty.”
Jammeh admonished the graduants that he expected them not to be aiming to drive in four wheel drive vehicles and sipping coffee in the office but to be out there in the field sweating it and working hard for their country.
He also welcomed the introduction of a new master’s programme in history and law. He said that writing our own history was more acceptable than the history of Africa written by non-Africans.
Earlier on, the Vice Chancellor gave a report on progress made since the last convocation, thanking the government and various donors for their invaluable assistance.
The speeches were followed by the recognition of the graduating students and the award of prizes and certificates to them by the Chancellor.
The day long programme also included a valedictory speech by the best graduating student, a reception and performances by the university quire and other cultural groups.
An interesting feature of the convocation ceremony was the story of a sitting traditional chief who graduated in development studies, and there was also the announcement that President Jammeh was making a donation of 55 lap top computers to the academic staff of the university.
SC/daj/APA 2008-01-27
Posted in AFRICA, AFRICAN COUNTRIES, AFRICAN EDUCATION, African higher education, EDUCATION, Gambia | No Comments »
Posted by sociolingo on February 18, 2008
Source: Reporters Without Borders
Gambia - Annual Report 2008
Area : 11,300 sq. km.
Population : 1,663,000.
Language : English.
Head of state : Yahya Jammeh.
The Gambian press does its best to survive in a climate in which an authoritarian president believes Aids can be cured with ointments and by reading the Koran, where intelligence services are dreaded for the brutality of their methods, the murder of the doyen of the journalists remains unpunished and there is an absolute intolerance of any form of criticism.
Swaying palms, immaculate beaches, a refreshing sea breeze and clear nights… Gambia, a former British colony surrounded by Senegal, is a tourist paradise whose sea coast is dotted with luxury hotels and holiday villages. But the country headed by the young president Yahya Jammeh is also the realm of an often irrational military regime, that tortures and terrorises those who dare to stand up to the head of state or his friends. The murder of the country’s most renowned journalist, Deyda Hydara, on the night of 16 December 2004, brought to an the era in which a well-organised, rigorous, privately-run press could still stand its ground against a government which did not conceal its hostility towards it. Since that date, almost all those who were an annoyance to the president have fallen into line through force or free will, or have left the country.
Read more
Posted in ACADEMIC, AFRICA, AFRICAN COUNTRIES, AFRICAN POLITICS, African journalism, African papers reports, Gambia, POLITICS | No Comments »
Posted by sociolingo on February 18, 2008
Source: Reporters Without Borders
Gambia - Annual Report 2008
Area : 11,300 sq. km.
Population : 1,663,000.
Language : English.
Head of state : Yahya Jammeh.
The Gambian press does its best to survive in a climate in which an authoritarian president believes Aids can be cured with ointments and by reading the Koran, where intelligence services are dreaded for the brutality of their methods, the murder of the doyen of the journalists remains unpunished and there is an absolute intolerance of any form of criticism.
Swaying palms, immaculate beaches, a refreshing sea breeze and clear nights… Gambia, a former British colony surrounded by Senegal, is a tourist paradise whose sea coast is dotted with luxury hotels and holiday villages. But the country headed by the young president Yahya Jammeh is also the realm of an often irrational military regime, that tortures and terrorises those who dare to stand up to the head of state or his friends. The murder of the country’s most renowned journalist, Deyda Hydara, on the night of 16 December 2004, brought to an the era in which a well-organised, rigorous, privately-run press could still stand its ground against a government which did not conceal its hostility towards it. Since that date, almost all those who were an annoyance to the president have fallen into line through force or free will, or have left the country.
Read more
Posted in ACADEMIC, AFRICA, AFRICAN COUNTRIES, AFRICAN POLITICS, African journalism, African papers reports, Gambia, POLITICS | No Comments »
Posted by sociolingo on February 17, 2008
Source: APA NEWS
APA Banjul (The Gambia)
The 9th biennial International Roots Festival, jointly organised by the Tourism Ministry, the National Tourism Authority and the National Council for Arts and Culture, is slated to take place in The Gambia from 30 May to 7 June, APA learns here Saturday.
The festival, which takes its name from Alex Haley’s saga of a family history immortalized in a book and a world acclaimed television series, is a major tourist attraction with African -Americans and other black people in the Diaspora attending it.
Read more
Posted in AFRICA, AFRICAN COUNTRIES, African festivals, CULTURE, Gambia | 1 Comment »
Posted by sociolingo on February 1, 2008
Source: The Soul Beat
African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN)
Programme Summary
Launched in 2006, African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMREN) promotes malaria research communication in Africa by strengthening the capacity of African journalists through training. The network of African journalists and scientists focuses on disseminating information on malaria control initiatives and monitors and advocates for the implementation of malaria policies in Africa. It also advocates and engages policy makers to implement international agreements on malaria control. The network was one of the outcomes of a one-week workshop on malaria research reporting in Africa, for selected journalists from nine African countries: The Gambia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal and Tanzania.
Communication Strategies
The network is designed to create a common platform for African journalists and scientists to work together on efforts to eradicate malaria, The network’s top priority is training journalists to report effectively on malaria. According to the organisers, this will develop in the long-term into a Malaria Media Institute, to be hosted by Women, Media and Change (WOMAC). Membership of the network is open to African journalists interested in reporting on malaria. Scientists, malaria experts and community health workers can become associate members.
Read more
Posted in AFRICA, AFRICAN COUNTRIES, AFRICAN HEALTH, African malaria, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, HEALTH, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania | No Comments »
Posted by sociolingo on December 30, 2007
Source: WHO Mental Health
THE GAMBIA
SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS
The number of people affected by mental disorders in the Gambia is significant. It is estimated that of a population of around 1.478 million, about 120,000 people have a mental disorder requiring treatment. However, almost 90% of people with severe mental disorder in the Gambia are left without access to the treatment they need.
More
Posted in AFRICA, AFRICAN COUNTRIES, AFRICAN HEALTH, African mental health, Gambia, HEALTH | No Comments »
Posted by sociolingo on December 29, 2007
Source: BBC NEWS
Avon Fire and Rescue Service donate their old equipment
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Six explorers have set-off on a 3,500 mile (5,633km) drive from Bristol to the Gambia in west Africa. The volunteers are travelling in two decommissioned ambulances and a minibus which are due to be handed over to the Gambian Fire Service.
One of the drivers, Trevor Jones, said the convoy hoped to be in Morocco for the New Year and spending January crossing the Sahara.
More
Posted in AFRICA, AFRICAN COUNTRIES, African good causes, Gambia, LIFE | No Comments »
Posted by sociolingo on December 28, 2007
Source: BBC NEWS
Couple battle in old banger race
Adrian Lort-Phillips and wife Rachel Hicks square up with their cars
|
A couple will race head-to-head as they travel 4,000 miles to Gambia in cars they have saved from the scrapheap. Adrian Lort-Phillips, from Pembrokeshire, entered the Plymouth-Banjul Challenge despite his wife Rachel Hicks expressing concern.
But he later learned she had secretly also signed up for the charity event securing an old Range Rover, formerly used as a chicken coop, for her ride.
Their journey to Banjul, the Gambian capital, may take up to 24 days.
Posted in AFRICA, AFRICAN COUNTRIES, African travel, Gambia, LIFE | 2 Comments »
Posted by sociolingo on December 26, 2007
Source: UNESCO
“Bite Off Only as Much as You Can Chew”:
Gambia’s Policy for Early Childhood
In its National Education Policy for 2004-15,1 the Government of
Gambia announced a plan to create ECD Centres for 3-6-yearolds
on the premises of primary schools in the most
disadvantaged areas. The plan aims to optimise the existing
school infrastructure and workforce for early childhood. To
learn more about the country’s efforts to develop a sustainable
policy for early childhood, an interview was arranged with Mr.
Momodou Sanneh, Director of Basic and Secondary Education of
the Ministry of Education; and Mr. Alieu Badara Senghore,
Principal of the Gambia College.
More
Posted in AFRICA,