Education in Gambia

Education & the costs

The education system in The Gambia is similar to the one in the UK.
Potential sponsors are often confused by the different information
they are given, here we attempt to clarify the costs.

There are four types of school in Gambia.
Primary/Nursery age from 4/5 to 10/11
Junior age 11 to 14
Secondary age 14 to 17
Islamic school

Primary School

Unfortunately, kids who are adorably cute at age 5 to 10, grow like all kids into often less lovable teenagers and one tragedy of sponsorship is that it often means that children never complete their secondary education.

Gambian children start their schooling at between the age of 4 or 5. There are 6 years of primary education, the first 5 are sometimes FREE depending on the school, but each child has a school uniform, school shoes, a bag, books, pencils. Some stay at school at lunch time, but most go home for lunch. In the last year of primary school (grade 6) most schools charge a small fee to cover examinations.

There are many variations, some primary schools charge a small fee for each term, maybe £2.50, some may charge a little more, but during primary schooling the main costs are clothing, and school equipment. Nothing is provided FREE (Some schools are sponsored by Gambian businesses or by tourist organisations or charities and at these, there maybe FREE uniform or books.) These differences make it hard for sponsors who will be told different things by different people.

GTS estimate that during the first 5 years of primary school, the overall cost is approximately £30 in the first year and £25 in following years until the final year of primary where the cost rises to £35. This just covers the schooling element, many potential sponsors are also asked for £1 a week for the child's midday meal, this adds a further £36 a year to the cost.

( Approx £70 per year for 6 years)

GTS not only wants to help individual children but also the schools they attend.

GTS will provide a detailed estimate for any child attending any school and will keep a detailed costing for each sponsor accounting for any money spent.

All schooling except Islamic school is carried out in English. In primary classes the children learn their numbers, how to count, learn the days of the week the months of the year. Much is done through rhymes and rhythms with the better children in each grade leading the class. The quality depends on the resources of the individual school, some have desks and chairs most have benches. Most have a board of some sort on the wall some have nothing. Some have toilets for the children some just have holes in the ground, it depends on the luck that the school has had with sponsorship and that often depends on the enterprise of the head and their staff.

Improvised seating and desks!

Towards the last years of primary most of the children can read and write. Most parents do their best to send their children to all 6 years of primary school, but because of costs some never go on to junior school

There is an enormous variation in costs and quality in different schools in different areas.

The charges shown here tend to be on the high side to avoid nasty shocks BUT we provide an estimate for each child individually and take on a supervisory role to ensure that the children get what they need - including basic medical care as & when necessary.

Junior School

At the age of about 11 Junior education starts. Again the quality is not uniform but most children will have a desk and chair, all are expected to improve their English so they can read and write.

The costs increase per year because now a term fee is made of about 150 dalasi, and the first term is more expensive because there is new uniform & new books etc most junior children will need a watch so they can learn to tell the time. GTS estimates that the first year of Junior school (grade 7) costs around (£55) dropping to £50 for grade 8 and up to £55 again for grade 9 because of extra exam costs. Once again this does not include a midday meal, estimated at £1.25 so £16 per term almost £50 a year.
(A total of approximately £100 a year for 3 years)

Secondary School

From the age of 13/14, families that can afford it send their children for the 3 final years ending in school exams where children get the equivalent of 'O' levels or GCSE.

Again the fees increase and again the first and last years are the most expensive because of change of uniform and final examination fees, including food at lunch time, most important as many children travel by bus from their villages so have no way of getting home at lunch. Grade 10 costs about £140, grade 11 £125 and the final year with examination fees £150.

(Average of around £140 a year for 3 years)
Travel and lunch costs may add to this figure

In late 2000 we sent a container full of resources to establish the GTS centre in Brufut and to take computers and books donated by Rhyn Park School in Shropshire, to help establish Internet links with some Gambian secondary schools.

When the average family maybe has a total income of around £50 a month to pay for everything, it is not surprising that children's education suffers, not only does it save the considerable costs but as the child can then work it provides the family with more income.

Islamic Schools

It is difficult to get any costs for this sort of education, many families will send at least one child to Islamic school and it seems that if finances are critical then girls will go to the Islamic school so they can get married and bring up their children to understand the principles of the Koran.

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