GSSS Holds 55th Speech, Prize Giving Ceremony

GSSS Holds 55th Speech, Prize Giving Ceremony

Gambia Senior Secondary School (GSSS) on Thursday held its 55th speech and prize giving ceremony held at the school ground in Banjul. Delivering his speech, Lamin MB Jaiteh, the principal of GSSS, disclosed that in September 2012, they started a new academic year with a roll of 2100 students and a further breakdown of statistics shows that they have 1224 boys and 876 girls.

According to him, the school has a well-committed teaching staff of 59, 35 university graduates, 19 HTC holders and 5TC holders. He noted that the staff and students are fully aware that learning is not just to pass exams, but an overall development of the mind, the body and spirit (soul). "Here we perceive education as not only a means of developing talents but inculcating physical, moral, social and spiritual values in the individual for future challenges in life. A sound mind can only be found in a sound body, which greatly ease the learning process. We tap all the potentials discovered in our students and ensure that they utilize them," he affirmed.

Principal Jaiteh commended the Parents Teacher's Association (PTA) for playing a tremendous role towards the development of the school. According to him, series of meetings had been held both at executive and general body levels within the academic year. As a rusult, he added, resolutions were made and executed, as a result, registering remarkable academic performance and boosting the morale of the teaching staff and students.

The GSSS principal told the graduates that they have performed well, but that does not mean that they know all. According to him, this is just the beginning as the education process has not ended yet, saying that knowledge is like a baobab tree, no person can embrace it with both arms thus make sure the little gained becomes an asset to them and their country.

He advised the graduands that in this complex world of theirs it pay to be humble, honest in their dealings with others and treat all with respect and dignity and honour especially their parents who have fulfilled their responsibilities graciously by bringing them up to this level today. "As you have already written to your WASSCE exams and await your results, I wish you all a resounding success and passing with flying colours. May the Almighty God bless you as you start your journey to the world of challenges and uncertainty", Principal Jaiteh prayed. For her part, Njillan Senghore-Njie, the general manager of Finance and Administration at Trust Bank Ltd and the 1st guest speaker, noted that graduations mark a major transitional point in one's life while it is a phase in life that defines a coming of age, the ending of one era of life and the moving on to a new stage. "Graduates have taken a step towards your successful future and also the betterment of your family and community. I hoped that this marks an important step in a life which is rich in challenge, opportunity, meaning and accomplishment," she stated.

She told the graduates that their parents and guardians have given them the roots and the wings to grow so they must repay them by fulfilling those dreams that they have for them. The general manager of Finance and Administration at Trust Bank demonstrated the Bank's magnanimity by presenting to the school a token amount of D100, 000 as assistance towards the operational cost of running the school. She also announced that the bank has decided to sponsor the prizes for the best three students graduating this year.

Ebrima Cham, director general of GAMWORKS Agency, who also doubles as the 2nd guest speaker, wished the graduates all the best in their future endeavours in achieving their dreams. He therefore urged them to make The Gambia a better place for them, their families and the nation at large. He thanked the principal of the school and his staff for their dedication and hard work for giving their children the opportunity to be academically, morally and spiritually equipped to be leaders of tomorrow. Ousman S. Touray, outgoing head boy delivered the vote of thanks. Author: Mariatou Ngum-Saidy