By Tabora Bojang
The Gambia Teachers Union (GTU) is demanding a review of the mass transfer of teachers and the demotion of a head teacher of Buduck School, Region 5 North, in the Central River Region.
The teachers’ plight came after the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, MoBSE, blamed them for inviting a prominent opposition figure and native of the district Musa Cham as guest speaker at a graduation ceremony of the school (comprising a Lower Basic, Upper Basic and Secondary Schools) in one.
Mr Cham’s invitation was subsequently cancelled allegedly for political reasons, after alleged interference by some natives closely associated with the governing NPP.
Though the Minister of Basic Education Habiatou Drammeh said the objection to Cham’s presence came from the community, and was not based on political reasons, few believed her, and the subsequent mass transfer of teachers from the school as way of punishment, did not help matters.
Yesterday, the teachers union said it has conducted an investigation into the incident and has come up with a preliminary report and recommendations.
“On the 7th August, our panel of investigators met some of the affected staff to hear their accounts and the circumstances surrounding the incident and their subsequent transfers. Based on the findings, the panel recommended, among other measures, MoBSE urgently review the transfers of all affected staff,” the GTU said.
The GTU said its investigations have revealed the following mass transfer of Buduck school staff:
Omar M Cham, transferred to Soma, Alpha Njie to Sabi, Saloum Jafuneh to Kabafita, Omar AM Sallah, (Principal) to Karantaba and demoted to classroom teacher, Kebba Touray (deputy headmaster) to Ballanghar and Kaddy Darboe to Darsilami.
Demands to MOBSE
The GTU disclosed that following the submission of its findings and recommendations to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, the ministry has pledged to resolve the matter by returning all the affected teachers to Region 5 North, and those engagements would be undertaken to determine their appropriate placement in schools within the region.
Also, according to the Union, Omar AM Sallah, who served as Principal of Buduck Senior School prior to his transfer, will have his previous position as school head restored and posted to a school within CRR-North.
GTU stated that the Permanent Secretary is also committed to engaging the local authorities of Nianija District, including the Buduck community and staff of the Regional Education Directorate, to ensure that all stakeholders understand and appreciate their respective roles in education service delivery.
The GTU pledged it will continue to monitor the implementation of the agreed measures and provide further updates where necessary.