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2/12/1980 - The New Curriculum by Bowden S. Quinn

NOT OR PUBLICATION WITHOUT WRITER S CONSENT INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS BSQ Uncle Joe Guest House P O Box Banjul The Gambia The Ne Curriculum Vebruary Mr Peter Bird Martin Institute Current Wold Affairs Wheelock House heelock Street Hanover New Hampshire Dear Peter Patriotism interest antit1etical forces The Gambia least tlose citizens knowledce skills improve markedly conditions country The person nation greater ability improve quality t1ese worthwhile goals considered compatible The qualified idividual wants ahead career money abandon feelings commit This results structural instability progressive component Gambian society The remedy impose sanctions professional irresponsibility society I conclusion educational I believe holds other areas I reason teaching should exception although U S group underpaid comparison value society teachers The gravity vasiveness professional irresponsibility educa tional system revealed following remarkable passage education epartment annual report Unfortunately Under Secretary Mr A M Salla Ministry Education Ist February Another admini strative posted ministry unqualified teachers failed The officer question probably found interest financially report assignment Likewise Mr Sallah departure recipitate prompted sudden opportunity advancement resulting substantial uption ministry affairs Job duties stand promotion Teac leave schools middle abandoning classes which await uncertain arrival replacement Any expressed Bowden Quinn Overseas Journalism Fellow Institute studying colonial influences West African nations His current interest education The Gambia Senegal concern education department about teachers failing their assigned posts rings hollow because depart freely transfers promotes teachers classroozl It seems educational system musical chairs teachers scrambling limited number oppor tunities advance Consequently teacher remains school length loser competition promotions likely become disillusioned unenthusiastic about Good teachers other constantly movin ladder having little chance developwskills apply thoroughly Either students victims process someone dedication amounting almost sense mission could overcome system believes Such person however M Sonko director education department Curriculum Development Center After Schooling The Gambia graduate studies curriculum development University Maine So teaching Gambia College science curriculum coorinator offered CDC At government announced lecturers college would raised higher level government scale Sonko acceptance curriculum coordinator would losing percent increase All friends I crazy taking recalls smile Fortunately government action retro active Sonko received salary increase though months still confronts problem however because director qualified applicants willing accept lower salary could teachers Curriculum coordinators grade government scale initial salary about annual raises years until promotion grade level D132 about Yet person graduate degree teaching experi reuired curriculum development would minimum grade school teacher receiving D7 about annual increases Predictably Sonko chronic staff shortage turnover since teachers advantage center UNESCO funded training programs further their careers never doing curriculums Sonko tried convince superiors staff should teachers developing curriculum encounters obstacles understanding objectives interference higher threatened center growth Although government initiated curriculum The Gambia needs officials educated British resistant change More importantly education department officials CDC large trained settled staff because could center establishment autonomous under Ministry The Education which Sonko admits authority curriculum would substantial diminish department powers tothe education officers advantage center small unstable possible To there promotion within center forcing staff ransfer mainstream department advancement another source frustration Sonko The staff shortage forced development secondary school curriculum center timetable introduction primary curriculum change first grade revised curriculum being tested grade Next second grade receive curriculum trial program tested pilot Primary classes Full implementation primary grades To glimpse curriculums I visited Albion Primary School Banjul Albion local agreement school which means although government school almost primary schools country still largely Methodist Church which started Its present buildings erected making better facilities elementary education although classrooms dimly noise traffic street students comes through windows doors resounds against concrete walls The first lesson I attended Primary class The instructor Mr Goode teacher I perform classroom He educated entirely The Gambia evinced regret being training welcomed opportunity brothers classroom However physical education coordinator takes classroom during school hours especially before Independence Day celebrations Feb Instruction necessity copying examples blackboard students notebooks textbooks The lesson simple interest lessons level geared Common Entrance Examination given admission secondary schools Of about pupils about school Another admitted prestigious secondary technical schools The majority their formal education Primary level Goode critical government education policy Two years during election campaign government priuar education while relieved small school parents their children books school supplies which raised educating child about between The government raised entrance which start formal education seems Goode Both decisions votes rural areas Goode thinks I visited Primary English class English official language The Gambia except lowest grades medium instruction Yet rarely beteen Gambians outside classroom although I watched classes unction normally English attempts pupils beteen classes vacant stares embarrassed smiles Eng scholastic language specialized function formerly Latin Roman Catholic asses The curriculul little correct problen Language redoubtable bulwark colonial A lution needed teaching English Africa beyond cosmetic reforms substituting house mango apple The introduction curricu Primary I teacher handbook English states native English speakers Gambian pupils sufficient mastery language understood native other speaker English This philosoply defeats purpose having English national The primary I should every student speak Gambian English comprehensible other Gambians first other West African English speakers second finally other native English eakers accustomed 1emselves inflections idiosyncracies develops Ne Orleans drawl Donaeast Anoter I curriculum handbooks written Gambian primary school teache_s offer splendid example educationese English handbook Test marks other evaluation results provide evidence child progress because evaluation techniques concerned learning outcomes those stated instructional objectives I witnessed result faulty attempts unication Primary class using experimental science curriculum where teacher understood directions teac1ing lesson incorrectly Despite these failings I great spect Sonko staff doing unless aborted education officials I expect curriculum radical impact Gambian society In words Primary teacher profession years curriculum gives teachers students something The difieronce obvious class schedule posted which filled whereas others jumble Ialf hearted intentions order classroom struck impression lesson something physical which teacher needed motion relying teacher competence energy intentions other classes If their education allowed continue these Primary children learn discipline necessary sense responsibility through society skeletal strength overcome impedime interest Best regards Borden Quinn