Cutting Edge Training Offered Free to Gambian Teachers

Teachers of children in their early years are being invited to participate in free training during April in The Gambia.
Five teachers from the UK are travelling to The Gambia at Easter to train trainers on using synthetic phonics.

The Department of State for Basic and Secondary Education has been concerned about the literacy levels among children. Last year, the department invited a trainer from the UK who teaches Jolly Phonics, using a multisensory method through songs, actions and games, to visit the country.
The trainer, Alison Gash, made a big impact and the Department decided to promote Jolly Phonics across the country.

“It had a huge impact seeing local children aged 6 and 7 who were able to read, build words, enjoy it and have confidence,” she said.
She added that teachers need more training in being able to hear the individual letter sounds. The previous system used the ‘ABC method’, which emphasises letter names rather than the sounds they make.

Sainey Gibba is Deputy Head Teacher at Wellingara Community Nursery School which has some 400 3-7 year olds. He has used Jolly Phonics since 2005.  He says: “The children love the scheme and are very happy using it. They now hate the rote learning of letter names they used to do before. There has been a significant improvement in their reading. Years ago children left the nursery without being able to recognise any letter sounds, much less to read or write sentences on their own. Now 11 children in my class can read and write sentences on their own.

“I think the Government is taking the right course to improve our education system. I am confident that if teachers take Jolly Phonics seriously the issue of children being unable to read in our early grades will soon be a thing of the past.”

There has been a big debate in the UK about using synthetic phonics to teach English.
Research on the use of Jolly Phonics synthetic phonics programme has shown that children taught with the programme were more than three years ahead of their peers by the end of primary school.
Some countries including Grenada that use English as a second language have recognised the importance of using synthetic phonics programme as the best way of teaching English literacy.

Teachers in Nursery Schools, who would like to be trained to teach using the Jolly Phonics method are invited to register their interest in the training which will take place on Tuesday15th and Wednesday 16th April at NANA, starting promptly at 9am. The training will be free but expenses for travel and subsistence for the participants will have to be paid by their respective schools.
Only 2 applicants per school can be allowed as space is limited. The places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Some participants will be selected to become trainers. This additional training will take place on 17th March.  Permission to attend this training must be sought from the Head Teacher of your school.

To register interest text 7450037 or 9932874 with your name, your school and your contact number. Schools and individuals wishing to formally register can also contact either Momodou Jeng or Momodou Jammeh at the Curriculum office in 21 Hagan Street Banjul.