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Not
wishing to wash our dirty laundry in public but we are currently discussing
the charity's continued support of this school.
During
the UK Autumn of 2007 it became clear that the school was running a
secondary administration directly raising money from donors and sponsors
even emailing GETS sponsors to pay money directly to the head, originally
to his own bank account and then into an account he set up for the school
without the charity's knowledge.
The visitor's book contained no donations record and no donations made directly
to the school have been recorded or accounted for, the head claims that
no money donations have been made. |
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His
school is supported by a small UK registered charity who have raised
considerable funds to carry out building work, provide equipment, teachers'
salaries as well as generators, electrification and equipment.
In
November 2004 The Essau School administration was handed over by charity
members John and Kay Skingsley to GETS to administer. At a meeting held
and minuted with the local community GETS agreed to the request.
The
acting Head, secured United Nations food supplies for the school and
using funding from John's charity GETS has provided the cooking pots
and utensils required. September 2007 The United Nations ceased the
food programme while investigations into corruption went on. Schools
were claiming more food that the children actually on role and food
was being used to pay cooks that should have been used for the children.
Following
the registration of GETS as a UK charity the administration in Gambia
has been tightened to provide UK type records and accounts including
accurate school registers, accurate accounting of donations made directly
to our schools and far greater accountability and control of our heads.
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The
new supply at Essau being tested by
the Headmaster, Mallick. |
Since
GETS became responsible for Essau school a new toilet block has been
constructed, water has been connected to the site but not yet to the
toilets, a 3rd classroom and head's office has been constructed. Currently
there is an embargo (Dec 07) - on further capital works at the school,
until the head master and school committee comply with the requirements
of the charity to run the school as required by the charity and not
as an unaccounted money making business.
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Since
the working chair of the school's committee has agreed that the head
has made a mistake and that the community still wishes to have the charity
support the school the head has not so far co-operated, we wait
to see
the outcome. |
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GETS
acknowledge and are appreciative of the trust and faith placed in GETS
(and the staff of its sister charity in The Gambia, GTS.) It also pays tribute
to John, Kay and their small original charity for all their past achievements.
It is hoped ways can be found to work together and jointly maintain,
fund and develop this wonderful little school that is much valued and
needed by the local community. |
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