Back and Next - Back and NextBokaloho Centre’s fate in limbo
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The continuity of the Bokaloho Skills Training Centre along the Tabokoto-Brikama Highway in Abuko is in doubt as their materials were thrown out of the school’s premises on Monday morning.
Offices and classrooms were also locked up by personnel of the Gambia Police Force, acting on the instructions of the Bundung Magistrates Court. Our reporter, who visited the school grounds, observed that both the teachers and students were in a desolate mood. Some teachers complained that some of their students are on their final year.
Sulayman Puye, the principal of the school explained "we came here in the morning and found that our classrooms doors were locked. It is very sad because some of our students are in their final year. We don’t even know what to do now, and we don’t want to see our students dropping out like this. This school is a Gambian-own NGO and we are the cheapest skills training centre in the country.
We are appealing to the authorities to come to our aid and save us from this condition," he said. Jainaba Bojang, head girl of the school and Binta Sonko, a student at the school, both appealed to the authorities to come to their aid as this could mark the end of their school career. "We are almost at the completion of our term in the school. Let the authorities help us to develop our land for us," said the affected students.
Confirming the story, Famara Ceesay, the landlord, said he had served the school with a notice several times prior to the notice to vacate the place by the Bundung Magistrates Court. He said the land was given to the school based on agreement terms which have expired.
He added that he had increased his rent from D40,000 to D100,000, which the school did not pay. He further complained that the school used the place as a dancing ground, something he disapproves of. According to him, since the court delivered judgement in his favour, he had told them to vacate the place but they refused to comply. He also disclosed that the land in question was given to his son who wants to develop it.
Offices and classrooms were also locked up by personnel of the Gambia Police Force, acting on the instructions of the Bundung Magistrates Court. Our reporter, who visited the school grounds, observed that both the teachers and students were in a desolate mood. Some teachers complained that some of their students are on their final year.
Sulayman Puye, the principal of the school explained "we came here in the morning and found that our classrooms doors were locked. It is very sad because some of our students are in their final year. We don’t even know what to do now, and we don’t want to see our students dropping out like this. This school is a Gambian-own NGO and we are the cheapest skills training centre in the country.
We are appealing to the authorities to come to our aid and save us from this condition," he said. Jainaba Bojang, head girl of the school and Binta Sonko, a student at the school, both appealed to the authorities to come to their aid as this could mark the end of their school career. "We are almost at the completion of our term in the school. Let the authorities help us to develop our land for us," said the affected students.
Confirming the story, Famara Ceesay, the landlord, said he had served the school with a notice several times prior to the notice to vacate the place by the Bundung Magistrates Court. He said the land was given to the school based on agreement terms which have expired.
He added that he had increased his rent from D40,000 to D100,000, which the school did not pay. He further complained that the school used the place as a dancing ground, something he disapproves of. According to him, since the court delivered judgement in his favour, he had told them to vacate the place but they refused to comply. He also disclosed that the land in question was given to his son who wants to develop it.
Author: By Musa Ndaw
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