School Development Unit
Our School Development Programme is designed to promote quality and relevant education in rural Gambia. Our programme targets teachers in schools providing refresher trainings and practical skills and knowledge on efficient teaching methodologies, educational material production and usage, time management among others.
Our School Development Unit train teachers to use locally available materials/resources to produce learning materials to enhance students’ understanding of both arithmetic and nonarithmetic methods in various subjects.
We also support school authorities such as the Mothers’ Club, School Management Committees, to enhance their managerial skills and improve their management practices.
Moreover, we conduct Education For All Campaigns to increase enrolment and retention of schools targeting parents to encourage them to send and keep their children in school.
Since 2019, we have incorporated Menstrual Hygiene Management in our programme. While our Construction and Technical Unit has been building school infrastructure including toilets, thanks to our donors, we thought it essential to promote the right of girls to be able to maintain their hygiene and attend class duration menstruation. Aware of the high cost associated with sanitary pads in rural Gambia, in addition to accessibility issues, we resorted to the promotion of reusable sanitary pads, through training, sensitisation and production of the pads.
And we do promote peaceful coexistence in schools and communities.
WE HAVE ADVOCATED AND CHAMPIONED SEGRA
The SEGRA-methodology
The SEGRA methodology is based on active learning. Divergent from the passive teaching method “Chalk and Talk”, SEGRA provides constant activity during the learning process. Learning letters and blending letter sounds into words are done through rhymes and actions in a playful way.
The learning process is reinforced when students are active, cooperate in group work, play games and dramatize. The students work within groups of 6-8 students, with one designated team leader. The students learn to work together in a democratic manner, organize, take responsibility, be active and build confidence.
Advocacy in SEGRA
Within the SEGRA methodology advocacy on central development issues are included, such as basic knowledge in democracy principles, gender and equality, conflict and African Charter on the rights and welfare of the child.
SEGRA workshops
During an academic year SEGRA, we hold 10 workshops. One workshop with material production, six workshops on SEGRA 1 which deals with the initial letter sounds and three workshops on SEGRA 2 including diagraphs and tricky spelling sounds. All the workshops are followed by three days of monitoring, classroom tutoring, observations and material production.
Are you here for quality education, visit us at our address: Kotu South, Kanifing, The Gambia or email us.
SEGRA material
SEGRA material includes sound posters, rhymes, writing strips, tactile cards for pictures, reading books and a teachers’ manual. The materials are produced at low cost for the teachers to be able to replicate and use in their SEGRA teaching.
SEGRA improves education quality with active learning within the learning process and teachers’ awareness regarding rights and regulations for the child.
For promoting quality teaching methodology, we are the leading NGO in The Gambia. This is why we are usually selected for partnerships, in pilot programmes etc.
We are happy to be one of two partners working with the Luminus Fund to bring back out of school children back to our intensive one academic year classes and help them transit to the established conventional classes.