National Science Week celebration underway

The National Science Week celebration, last Tuesday commenced at Nusrat Senior Secondary School, Bundung.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Pap Sey, who deputised the permanent secretary, department of state for Basic and Secondary Education said that it has emerged that the number of students opting to study science at the secondary level or pursue a career related to it, has been declining. This trend, he added, appears to be a consequence of the negative image or perception of science, technology, and mathematics education.
According to him, as a nation, they are hard-pressed to find effective and sustainable solutions to this adverse trend in order to develop science and technology to an appreciable level, that can be fully translated into innovative, dynamic and enterprising opportunities.

“This is the raison d’être for striving to popularise science and technology through the annual celebrations and other relevant interventions” he said. Yahya Al-Matarr Jobe, programme officer of Education and Science at The Gambia National Commission for UNESCO, said that the purpose of the Science and Technology Week celebration is to expose students to wonderful career opportunities. He expressed hope that the exhibits and lessons learned will encourage them to pursue higher education in science and technology and to eventually become lecturers, astronauts, scientists, doctors and researchers, to fill the shortage of science experts, The Gambia is currently facing.
 
According to him, the National Science Week, can immeasurably create awareness of the important role science plays in people’s daily lives and encourage students and youths to consider studying and improving their performance in mathematics and science. Other speakers included Karamo S Bojang, the principal of Nusrat Senior Secondary School among others.