The background
In March 2015, the schools in B and C Educational Ltd.’s informal network were encouraged by the British Council to consider developing tripartite partnerships with The Gambia and Senegal based on their already successful inks with Gambian schools. So with the help of the Dakar British Council office five Senegalese teachers were identified and duly invited to join B&C’s March study visit to The Gambia. These teachers came and played a full part in the professional activities. They were part of the initial teachers’ seminar where they made good contributions, they joined in with International Day of Happiness at Bakau Newtown LB, they visited Gambian schools and they enjoyed the cultural immersion, along with their UK partners, in Gambian life.
Des Bowden and Pam Copeland then arranged a follow-up visit to Senegal during their November study visit.
The day 28 November 2016
There was no difficulty in attracting the Gambian teachers to join the adventure. At 4.40 am eight Gambian teachers forsook their beds and their day off and climbed into the minibus and by 6.00 am we were all waiting at the busy Banjul-Barra ferry terminal, we were still there at 7.00 am and then at 8.00am we arranged a picnic breakfast of bread and luncheon meat. We finally reached Barra at about 9.30 and set off for Farafeni and the border crossing. The Gambian road along the North bank was good and we made the border crossing by 11.00 am.. The road from the border to Nioro du Rip was undergoing renovation and so we arrived, somewhat fatigued and shell shocked to be met by the warmest welcome ever at CEM Nioro dur Rip Sud.
The whole school turned out to welcome us and four of of Senegalese colleagues were there to shake our hands and hug us! There were then three national anthems, the Senegalese one sung beautifully by the choir, a parade of honour, the school dancing troupe and much mutual congratulation and lots of smiles. French, English and Wolof were all spoken, often all at the same time.
We were shown around the school by the rightfully proud headteacher and his staff and then to the staff room for a formal meeting, with a welcome from the students of the School Government.
The Student governors welcome the guests
The exchange of ideas was uplifting, the meeting felt that the ice had been more than broken (especially in temperatures of over 30 C). We had demonstrated that the Senegalese could visit Gambia and the Gambians could visit Senegal. For shared learning longer time spent in Senegal would be necessary, but that was perfectly feasible with appropriate funding.
There was a general wish to progress the tripartite relationships and all schools had maintained email contact with there UK counterparts. The visit concluded with a welcome and delicious meal of benechin. The return journey was straightforward, until we reached the Arch in Banjul where we met and had to wait for President Jammeh’s motorcade and the crowds of people welcoming him back to his capital. We finally reached Bakau at 9.30 pm, tired but excited by our visit and its potential for partnership development.
Future Prospects
All the teachers felt that the experience had been most beneficial. . Extended visits with the development of shared learning projects will need to wait until British Council funding becomes available. However in the meantime there was a strong wish for the partnerships to develop and grow and certainly the emails have been buzzing. Jane Craddock at Belle Vue Primary school in Dudley hopes to improve her pupils’ French skills by linking with Nio du Rip. Elizabeth Gomez from Tallinding Lower Basic wants to share her phonics skills with Senegalese teachers. Sala Dieng wishes to be funded to visit the UK schools. The potential for exciting and innovative educational projects,based on the developing personal relationships evolving between all the participants, is huge.