5 The school I want to learn in - Rakey

RAKEY DRAMMEH, ST JOSEPH’S SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL, BANJUL, THE GAMBIA

I believe everybody should have a good start in life. Having a good education is a great path to success and schools tend to provide us with that.


But before hitting the nail on the head, I would like to give the definition of a school and it’s importance in our lives. ‘A school is an educational institution designed to provide learning spaces and learning environments for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Schools help us with the education that provides stability in our lives and also shows us the importance of hard work, and at the same time helps us to grow and develop. For school actually means ‘sincerity, capability, honesty, orderliness and learning’.


Firstly, the school I want to learn in is a school that will promote the talent of people for financial success. I want a school that not only focuses on academic achievements but also promotes the talents of people who will help both the person, the society, and the world at large, so that they can be self-employed even if they are without jobs.


Secondly, I want a school that will eliminate all discrimination and bullying. Discrimination occurs when a person treats members of a certain class unfairly because of their membership in those groups. This discrimination, when it occurs in a school, can cause students to have negative attitudes about school, and have lower academic motivation and performance. It can also lead to dropping out of high school. In the case of bullying, it can cause the student to be traumatised. He/she will lack self-esteem. It can result in depression, lower academic achievements and even suicide.


Thirdly, I want a school that has good and qualified teachers. If a school has qualified teachers, student performance will be outstanding. Teachers are the back bone of our nation, fostering creativity and building skillful individuals. A good teacher in a classroom is one of the most important resources you can provide for us students.


In addition, I want to learn in a school that moulds peaceful and just people for the future. Why is peace necessary to live in a just and free society? Just and inclusive societies are necessary to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs). People everywhere need to be free of fear from all forms of violence and feel safe as they go about their lives, regardless of ethnicity, faith or sexual orientation.


Furthermore, I would like to learn in an institution that is able to promote good health and wellbeing. Health problems seem to arise out of nowhere these days. Health is more important than wealth. You can buy things, but with fragile health, days are no longer sunny. A school that can promote and protect my health, and the health of those around me, can help us make well informed choices, and enlighten us on practising personal and environmental hygiene, and vaccinating us, so that we can be free from sickness.


In conclusion, in today’s world, with the hustle and bustle of city life, schools will be wonderful places to learn and grow if the qualities mentioned above are put into practice. Our journey through education is enriched by blending in play, fun and nature.

RAKEY DRAMMEH • August 7, 2023

An Education Revolution

By Ann Beatty • April 6, 2025
This week while out and about in Hertfordshire and we visited the British Schools Museum. We discovered the first school opened by Joseph Lancaster, was known as the ‘Poor Childs Friend”, was in 1810. It was his lifelong mission that all children regardless of their circumstances, should benefit from an education. Apparently, Joseph heard a small girl say, “Oh that I could read!” and this inspired him to create a simple education system that eventually would benefit children across the world. Joseph was the tenth son of a poor man himself from South London. His aim was to offer free education for everyone. However, it would be 93 years before the U.K. government finally made education free for all. There are still many countries today where education is still not free to access and it is certainly not compulsory for primary and secondary age pupils. Joseph’s mission really resonates with that of the Foundation, to support access to education for all. We enjoyed our visit and appreciated the tour given by two of the Museum’s volunteers, Angela and Clare. They described some of the challenges faced in the early years of formal education and shared some of the rules that teachers and students had to abide by with us. 

Sparks Bristol

By Ann Beatty • April 4, 2025
Sparks Bristol is a collaborative community project initially envisioned by The Global Goals Centre, (GGC) more of which below. A few years ago, GGC took over an empty Marks and Spencer store and that’s how Sparks was born. Sparks is a department store with a difference, co-created by Global Goals Centre and Artspace Lifespace. On the ground floor is a huge range of shops, installations, events and more. Upstairs is a hub for local artists, it offers affordable studios as well as rehearsal and performance space. The Global Goals Centre is a Bristol-based educational charity inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals. (SDGs). GGC believe the SDG’s or Global Goals as they are sometimes known, can be reached, with imaginative solutions and widespread education and engagement. They work with partners to promote creative solutions and deliver ground breaking projects that work towards these ambitious goals. The Steve Sinnott Foundation supported the Global Goals Centre with seed funding when it first started over 5 years ago. This month we went to visit them to see how they are getting on and we were taken aback by the volume of work they have achieved since they started. It is amazing to see how though working together with other local community groups it has grown into the vibrant centre it is today. All of the creative projects they host are linked to the SDGs. They cover topics that tackle poverty, education, climate change, fashion recycling and upcycling, to name a few.

Spring is Here! Looking Ahead!

By Ann Beatty • March 28, 2025
Spring is definitely here, daffodils, blossom and crocuses are all basking in the bright sunshine. There is still a chill in the air in the shade but it's happening and all the seeds that were sown over the last few months are coming to fruition. At the Foundation, we have been planning the year ahead and our Positive Periods and Prevention of Gender Based Violence programmes got underway this weekend in Haiti and Ghana. These projects will have a long-lasting effect on the lives of the women and girls who take part: tackling the root causes of gender-based violence and enabling girls to attend school every day when they have their period, to feel safe at school and know how to take action when they are faced with violence. These are the first of many projects planned for the year ahead as we continue to work towards Education for All children everywhere.