THE MINISTRY OF BASIC AND SECONDARY EDUCATION
PROGRESS REPORT ON PRIVATE SCHOOLS VERIFICATION IN REGION ONE, May 2012
INTRODUCTION
As a result of findings that emanated from school visits during the 27th June to 1st July, 2011 CCM in Region One, the Permanent Secretary established a Task Force in July 2011, to look into the matter relating to the operation of private schools.
This report includes information about the mandate of the Task Force, the methodology used, findings, conclusion and recommendations. Also included is the list of private schools assessed. The report is limited to the facts emanating from the verification exercise to establish the legality of operating private schools.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
The Task Force was mandated to visit all private schools and, among other things, to verify their registration statuses (i.e. registered and non-registered) in accordance with the national rules and regulations (e.g. MoBSE guidelines for opening of private schools).
METHODOLOGY
The Task Force visited schools to establish:
- conformity to minimum standards in terms of
ü Condition of Operation: land space, availability of classrooms and recommended class/classroom sizes e.g. 7m x 7m,
ü Mode of Operation: curriculum delivery, assessment of learning, student welfare, and fees charged (value for money),
ü Sustainability: continued supply of students, reliable source of resources (teachers & finance), and ownership of facilities etc.
- Recommendation for closure, provisional/permanent approval for schools as appropriate.
Implementation Procedures
· Desk top compilation of school list from Planning and Region 1
· Aerial survey to map out private schools
· School list updated to capture newly discovered schools
· Assessment form developed
· Assessment form trial tested
· A template for individual school report developed
· Proprietors/proprietress sensitised and issued assessment forms to fill
· School visits conducted to collect and verify information provided in assessment forms
· Individual school reports prepared based on the assessment form and findings from school visits
FINDINGS
The Task Force made the following discoveries:
· Some proprietors illegally open unregistered schools in different locations using the same license,
· In some instances, schools move from one location to another without informing the relevant authorities,
· Proprietors extend their operation to include other levels (e.g. from ECD to LBS) within the same premises without permission and as a result sometimes created congestion,
· A good number of the private schools especially ECDs were housed in undesirable or appalling structures e.g. self-contained houses/structures, close to noisy workshops, waterlogged premises, shops, car garages, churches, verandas, corridors, sheds, and unfinished buildings,
· In some cases the safety of the facilities and, or the location of some schools is greatly doubted (e.g. some schools are constructed with mud blocks and leaking roofs, in private and hidden locations which can expose children to the risk of sexual harassment, disaster or emergency outbreaks e.g. fire, and dangerous reptiles).
Reasons for The Rapid Spread of Private Schools
1. Violation of the registration process e.g forgery of registration, multiple usage of single registration, operation without registration
2. Laxity in the monitoring process
3. Delay in the registration process
4. Lucrative business
5. High demand for schools especially ECD Centres
Private schools classified as a result of studies carried out on individual schools in Region 1:
|
| Approval | Provisional | Closure | Total |
| Nursery | 74 | 42 | 38 | 154 |
| LBS | 15 | 4 | 14 | 33 |
| UBS | 5 | 4 | 1 | 10 |
| SSS | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| Total | 97 | 51 | 56 | 204 |
List of Schools are attached at Appendix
Conditions for School Closure
The Task Force established the degree of prevalence of the following conditions to determine the status of the private schools:
Land ownership status
Insufficient classrooms and space
Limited number of qualified teachers
Classroom spacing and arrangement
Poor infrastructure
Lack of play ground (Owned or arranged)
Poor Sanitation
Poor school Management
Salary Issue
Unsafe structures
CONCLUSION
Schools mushroomed in Region One mainly because of the following reasons:
1. There is a high demand for education and proprietors capitalized on this demand
2. Proprietors established schools in response to the huge differences in economic abilities among families in the area
· The rich can afford to pay for expensive fees in some private schools and
· The poor can only afford to pay for inexpensive fee charges in low quality schools. For these reasons some proprietors who cannot afford to start a standard school prefer to open low quality schools for the less privileged
· A review of Planning School Assessment Reports showed that schools charged a wide range of fees depending on quality of facilities and quality of service delivery
3. Some proprietors capitalize on the low starting capital cost of illegal operations of schools to later on rise to more advanced legal operations
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. To enforce the change of school names carrying “International.”
2. To reinforce the teaching and adherence to the national curriculum and examinations in schools with International status.
3. The Ministry to decentralize the school opening application process and establish joint school verification.
4. Establishment of time line for school registration process to avoid delay
5. To strength monitoring to avoid illegal school operation.
6. To have a uniform registration certificate as currently, both certificate and approval letters being used.
7. To open individual files for all registered schools at both the Ministry and REDs to avoid loss of documents.
8. To sanction schools that opera without being granted approval.
9. An annual survey of all private schools in the country to be conducted to update records.
10. Extend the process used in this exercise and the modality agreed upon to cover other regions.
NEXT EXERCISE
1. The next step in Region 1 is to notify Proprietors/Proprietresses on the status of their schools.
2. Mount sensitization programme through available media (TV, Radio, and Newspapers)
3. To extend similar exercise in Region 2
List of Private Schools Assessed So Far
Early Childhood Education:
| NJM | SCHOOLS RECOMMENDED FOR IMMEDIATE APPROVAL | SCHOOLS RECOMMENDED FOR CONDITIONAL/PROVISIONAL APPROVAL | SCHOOLS RECOMMENDED FOR CLOSURE |
| 1 | Jahouvey Nursery School | Grace International School Daycare & Nursery | Ham Ham Nursery |
| 2 | Lebanese International School ECD | Marie Rita’s Nursery | Mansa Maru Nursery |
| 3 | Zoe International Day care and Nursery school | Christian Community of Latrikunda (CCLK) ECD | Quality Foundation Nursery |
| 4 | Zenith ECD (upgraded) | Little Accorns Daycare and Nursery School | Sympathy Orphanage |
| 5 | Alex Nursery, Bakoteh | Kambelaba Nursery | New Life International, Bakoteh, Tipper Garage |
| 6 | ABC 1, Bakoteh Housing Estate Street C No. 15 | Fojanga ECD | 2. Sir Dembo, Kotu |
| 7 | Kololi | Bethel Tiny Tots ECD | Brother & Sister, Kotu Quarry |
| 8 | Marie Angelique, Bakoteh Housing Estate Street C No. 15 | St. Paul’s Nursery (downgraded) | Kanuma, Latrikunda German |
| 9 | Sunrise, Bakoteh Layout | Kachikally Nursery (downgraded) | Musa Sanneh Memorial ECD (7)Ebo Town |
| 10 | The Swallow, Manjai Kunda, P.O.BOX 3414 Serekunda | P.L.Coker Nursery (downgraded) | Victorious Nursery (7)Tallinding |
| 11 | Universal Scholars Academy, Kotu South | Khadeejah Nursery (downgraded) | Adonia ECD (8) Talinding |
| 12 | Victory Gospel | May’s Nursery School (downgraded) | Dampha Shipman ECD TALLINDING |
| 13 | Apple Tree, Kotu, PMB 716, Serekunda | Amazing Grace ECD (downgraded) | Robert’s Int.Edu. Centre LBS (7) Talinding |
| 14 | Kingdom Heritage, Manjai Kunda, World Mission Agency, Inc Aka Winners' Chapel | Gambia Friendship Nursery School (downgraded) | Wansbrough Nursery (8)Serrekunda |
| 15 | Yakanu ECD (8)Bundung | Lend a hand Nursery, -Kotu Quarry - Serrekunda West -KSMD -7015609 | Mandela Nursery (7)Tallinding |
| 16 | Bucket Nursery (8) Talinding | Jofi, Manjai Kunda | Devine Academy Int.NuserySere Kunda |
| 17 | Marsden ECD (7)Talinding | Irma Kunda, Bakoteh Bantaba | Foursquare Nursery (7)Taillinding |
| 18 | Sanyang Take Care ECD (7)Talinding | Widar, Kotu Quary, Bamba Auto Road | J TT Nursery 2 (7)Tallinding |
| 19 | Child Concern ECD (8)Serekunda | Ellis Demaro, Bakoteh | Sir Dembo ECD (Churchill’s Town) |
| 20 | Bojang Nursery (7)Talinding Medina | D-Harris, Kotu, P.O.Box 3490 | Luc’s Nursery (7)DippaKunda |
| 21 | Devine International (8)Serekunda | 7. Children of The Gambia, Manjai, Westcoast Road | Greatland Nursery (7)Talinding |
| 22 | Divine Int Academy Talinding | Child Concern, Kotu Silo, Latrikunda German, 25 Lawrence Street, P.O.Box 3103 Serekunda | Redeemers Int. Nursery Dippakunda |
| 23 | Robert’s Int. ECD Talinding | Amazing Grace Annex, Manjai, Kotu Sillo | Muhammed Yadali Nursery |
| 24 | Bokaloho Nursery (8) Bundung | CEDAG, Kotu South | Life Impact Nursery |
| 25 | Musu’s (8) Bundung | Champion, Majai Kunda | St’ Davis Nursery |
| 26 | Cajab Nursery (8) Bakoteh | Rehobot, Bakoteh, Opposite Morro Baldeh's Compound | Buba Jarju and Awa Bojang Nursery |
| 27 | Wisdom Nursery (7) Serekunda | Universal Scholars Academy, Kotu South | Isatou Kombeh Jay’s Nursery |
| 28 | Model Int. ECD (?) Serekunda | Karin Nursery (8)Bubdung | Kunabantang Nursery |
| 29 | Shalom Nursery (7) Serekunda | JTT (1) Nursery Tallinding(7) ?? | Premier Day Care and Nursery |
| 30 | Rima Abam ECD (8) Serekunda | Awijnad Nursery (7)TalindingSecap | Ndigtal Nursery |
| 31 | Brimawa ECD (8) Serekunda | Allen Nursery (8)Serekunda Central | Alhagie Mamour Secka Nursery |
| 32 | KuntaKinteh Nursery (7) Talinding Medina | Cherno Baba Jallow Nursery | Vine Nursery |
| 33 | Hilary Nursery (7) TalindingCetral | Kaa Koli Kemo Nursery | Amazing Grace Annex Nursery- Faji Kunda |
| 34 | James Ogoo Nursery (7) Bundung | Lucy Memorial Nursery | Bullela Nursery |
| 35 | George Senghore Nursery (7) Talinding | Malnult Kindergarten | South Africa Nursery |
| 36 | Seedy Memorial (7) Talinding | Pentecost Pre- School | Faith Nursery, Tallinding |
| 37 | Hydra’s Nursery (7) Talinding | Abuko Nursery | Carol Nursery, Tallinding |
| 38 | DippaKunda Haste ECD (Haddy’s) (8)D/k | Livingword of faith Nursery | Mumy’s Nursery, L. Corner |
| 39 | AyrLuton Nursery (7) Talinding | Sunu Nursery | Sir Dembo Nursery, Bundung |
| 40 | Shine Africa Nursery (8) Bundung | Mahmoud Achten Day Care and Nursery | Early Impression, Churchills Town |
| 41 | Mobeta ECD (8) Dippakunda | Lutheran Nursery | Hope for Our New Generation, Tallinding |
| 42 | Arch Deacon George ECD (?)Serekunda | God's time International ECD | Humanist Nursery, Tallinding |
| 43 | Over comers ECD (8) Dippakunda | Jasuba Kid's Academy |
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| 44 | Lulu’s Memorial ECD (8) Serekuna |
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| 45 | New Covenant ECD (8)Serekunda |
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| 46 | Naffa Nursery (7)Talinding |
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| 47 | BakarySambou Nursery (7)Talinding |
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| 48 | Sobeya ECD (7) Churchill’s Town |
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| 49 | JTT (Kairaba) Nursery Talinding |
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| 50 | River Side ECD (9)Bundung |
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| 51 | Salvation ECD (?) Fagikunda |
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| 52 | Selma Int.ECD (9) Bundung |
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| 53 | YunusMemo.ECD (9)Bundung |
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| 54 | Zibah ECD Bundung |
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| 55 | Abuko Central ECD |
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| 56 | Jam Jam ECD (?) Abuko |
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| 57 | Light House ECD (?)Fajikunda |
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| 58 | Gola Fortunate ECD Abuko) |
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| 59 | ABC Nursery |
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| 60 | Carter Nursery |
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| 61 | Cluny Nursery |
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| 62 | Living Children Academy Nursery |
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| 63 | Methodist Preparatory Nursery |
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| 64 | J.C. Faye Memorial Nursery |
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| 65 | Royal Pre- School |
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| 66 | Unity Day Care and Nursery |
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| 67 | Marent Nursery |
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| 68 | St’ Charles Lwanga Nursery |
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| 69 | Roots Nursery |
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| 70 | Family Care and Kindergarten Nursery |
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| 71 | Rex Nursery |
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| 72 | GAMOL Nursery |
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| 73 | Lutherant Nursery |
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| 74 | Rainbow Nursey |
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| 75 | SDA ECD, New Jeswang |
Summary: Nursery
75 ECD Centers are recommended for immediate approval,
43 recommended for provisional approval and
42 recommended for immediate closure
Lower Basic School:
| NUM | SCHOOLS RECOMMENDED FOR IMMEDIATE APPROVAL | SCHOOLS RECOMMENDED FOR CONDITIONAL/PROVISIONAL APPROVAL | SCHOOLS RECOMMENDED FOR CLOSURE |
| 1 | Zenith LBS (upgraded) | Star Preparatory LBS | Zoe LBS |
| 2 | Apple Tree, Kotu,PMB 716, Serekunda | D-Harris, Kotu, P.O.Box 3490 | Fojanga LBS |
| 3 | Kingdom Heritage, Manjai Kunda, World Mission Agency, Inc Aka Winners' Chapel | Gola Fortunate LBS (Abuko) | Rainbow Early Childhood Development Center LBS |
| 4 | Universal Scholars Academy, Kotu South | Alhagie Mamour Secka LBS | Christian Community of Latrikunda (CCLK) LBS |
| 5 | Seedlings, Manjai Kunda |
| Bethel Tiny Tots LBS |
| 6 | Sunrise, Bakoteh Layout |
| God’s Time International LBS |
| 7 | The Swallow, Manjai Kunda, P.O.BOX 3414 Serekunda |
| Child Concern, Kotu Silo, Latrikunda German, 25 Lawrence Street, P.O.Box 3103 Serekunda |
| 8 | Yakanu LBS (8) Bundung |
| New Life International, Bakoteh, Tipper Garage |
| 9 | ABC LBS |
| Model Int. LBS (8)Sere Kunda |
| 10 | Carter LBS |
| Rima Abam LBS (8)Sere Kunda |
| 11 | Living Children Academy LBS |
| Brimawa LBS (8) Serekunda |
| 12 | Methodist Preparatory LBS |
| Zibah LBS (?) Bundung |
| 13 | J.C. Faye Memorial LBS |
| Light House LBS (?) FagiKunda |
| 14 | Worsdley LBS |
| Delta International LBS |
| 15 | SDA LBS, New Jeswang |
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Summary: LBS
15 LB Schools are recommended for immediate approval,
4 recommended for provisional approval and
14 recommended for immediate closure
Upper Basic Schools:
| NUM | SCHOOLS RECOMMENDED FOR IMMEDIATE APPROVAL | SCHOOLS RECOMMENDED FOR CONDITIONAL/PROVISIONAL APPROVAL | SCHOOLS RECOMMENDED FOR CLOSURE |
| 1 | Apple Tree, Kotu,PMB 716, Serekund | New Life UBS | Cates International, Kotu West |
| 2 | New Covenant, 3 Kotu Silo Road, Manjai | Amazing Grace School UBS |
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| 3 | Don Mcmath, Kotu South, P.O.Box 2530 | Wordsley UBS |
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| 4 | J.C. Faye Memorial UB |
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| 5 | Rose Kali UBS |
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| 6 | New Life UBS |
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| 7 | Ebenezer (SDA), NewJeswang |
Summary: UBS
7 UB Schools are recommended for immediate approval,
3 recommended for provisional approval and
1 recommended for immediate closure
Senior Secondary Schools:
| NUM | SCHOOLS RECOMMENDED FOR IMMEDIATE APPROVAL | SCHOOLS RECOMMENDED FOR CONDITIONAL/PROVISIONAL APPROVAL | SCHOOLS RECOMMENDED FOR CLOSURE |
| 1 | 20. Apple Tree, Kotu,PMB 716, Serekunda | West African Junior Secondary School | Cardinal SSS |
| 2 | Charles Fowlis SSS | Archdeacon Mathias SSS | Cates International, Kotu West |
| 3 | J.C. Faye Memorial SSS |
| Unity Comprehensive SSS |
| 4 | Ebenezer (SDA), New Jeshwang |
Summary: SSS
4 SS Schools are recommended for immediate approval,
2 recommended for provisional approval and
3 recommended for immediate closure
