Jahaly-Madina Kindergarten in Jahaly, CRR, resumes operations from November 1st, 2017, after a more than five months impasse. As of now parents in the area of Jahaly and Madina are invited to enroll their children for the academic year 2017/2018
The kindergarten had to close down on May 20th, 2017, after a joint resignation of all staff. Negotiations with the former staff now led to the reopening of the kindergarten under a new acting management, which is Bakary Jammeh, former staff member, and Mai Manneh. Mr. Jammeh and Mrs. Manneh are acting as equal Deputy Headmaster/Headmistress for the next six month.
All kindergarten staff have signed new working contracts with Project Aid The Gambia. As since the grand opening of Jahaly-Madina Kindergarten in 2004, the non-local staff is granted free housing, 24/7 water supply and sun-powered electricity by the project, at the compound of neighbouring Jahaly Health Centre.
Projects Aid The Gambia had sought to hand over the kindergarten staff to the Ministry of Education while at the same time staying responsible for the maintenance of all buildings and kindergarten equipment as well as of learning and playing materials. Furthermore Project Aid The Gambia was willing to instead spend the expenses for the salaries of the kindergarten staff for the renovation/maintenace of state-run schools. As the Project could not reach an agreement with the Ministry, both the German and Gambian Board of the charity organization decided to resume operations as soon as possible.
“We are glad to have found a solution for the reopening of the kindergarten. We were pleaded by the local parents several times to do so”, says Matthias Ketteler, chairman and founder of Project Aid The Gambia. “The children of Jahaly and Madina should not longer pay the prize for the impasse.”
The Jahaly-Madina Kindergarten is able to take care of up to 480 children of the age of four to seven years. Project Aid The Gambia provides free school uniforms and a free meal for their pupils – beside a first class pre-school education.
Photo: © 2017 Project Aid The Gambia
(The new Kindergarten staff with Matthias Ketteler – far right – and Bakary Jammeh, member Headmaster team – far left, row below)
