The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Alieu Ceesay
27 May 2011
Urr — The World Food Programme (WFP) Wednesday inaugurated two newly constructed kitchens in Niamanary Lower Basic and Bolli Banna Lower Basic Schools, both in Kantora District, Upper River Region.
The projects were constructed by Sulayman Jarjue of the Construction Unit of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education through funding from WFP in partnership with Thomos Nationwide Transport (TNT), and the government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, among other stakeholders. The projects came following a study tour by WFP who observed that the cooking environment in both schools were not conducive.
Speaking at both venues, Momodou G. Jallow, principal education officer at the Education Directorate, Region 6, described the inauguration as a milestone in the development of education in URR. He described WFP as a long time mutual friend to the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, a friendship he said dated back to the 1970s. He expressed gratitude to WFP for not only supporting the school feeding programme but also constructing kitchens to ensure hygienic food for the school children.
Jallow opined that these will help increase enrolment, retention of students as well as enable students complete their primary education. He then urged the school management and community to join hands in sustaining the project by taking good care of it. He also used the occasion to urge parents to send their children to school to ensure a better future for them.
Alhaji Kebba Trawally and Yero Kandeh, alkalos of Bolli Banna and Niamanary villages respectively, unanimously expressed gratitude to WFP for the projects, while assuring that they will take good care of the kitchens. They also promised to cultivate a garden to supplement the efforts of WFP in the feeding programme.
Bakary B.A Baldeh and Edrissa Jarra, headmasters of Niamanary and Bolli Banna Primary Schools respectively, both thanked WFP for the project. They assured of their continuous commitment to ensuring that the kitchens are well taken care of. They also promised to initiate school gardens to supplement the WFP feeding programme.
Officially inaugurating the two kitchens at both schools, Patrick Teixeira, head of programmes, WFP Gambia office described the day as special for his organisation. He stated that WFP is very much concerned about the wellbeing of Gambian children, which he said prompted them to come with the school feeding programme for vulnerable schools. He tasked the communities and school managements to take good care of the projects, stressing that without it the aim of the projects will not be realised.
Teixeira thanked all those who in one way or the other contributed in making the projects successful. “Investing in education is investing in the better future of the children,” he stated, adding that it will massively contribute to the development of the community, region and country. The best students at both schools were also presented with WFP gifts at the occasion.
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