By Nelson Manneh
The alumni class of 1985 from Serrekunda Lower Basic School recently renovated a two-classroom block and renamed it after their colleague Late Sheriff Mbye.
The renovation of the two classrooms cost about four hundred and fifty thousand dalasi. The newly renovated building was on Friday, 20 September 2024 handed over to the management of the school.
Mrs Chorro Jobe, a member of the 1985 Alumnae, said the funds that were used to renovate the two classroom blocks were raised by the students themselves.
“We all started our educational journey from this school, the foundation of our achievements started from this school that is why we deem it necessary to give back to this institution,” she said.
Mrs Jobe said when the issue was discussed at their level; members were not reluctant to contribute what they had to make sure that the project was implemented.
“We knew what we were doing was not only to renovate a block, but educating a generation. When I first visited this school after many years, I saw how students were struggling especially during the rainy season. The roof was damaged, so we came together to initiate this project,” she said.
Mr Malick Jeng, the coordinator of the project, said when the project was initiated, he visited the school and saw that the building was already dilapidated.
“We raised the funds within a short period and were able to renovate and hand over the classrooms within a few months.
“The newly renovated block is dedicated to the late Sheriff Mbye, a colleague who was with us, but later passed away. He was a friend and a brother to many of us, we started the academic journey together with him,” he said.
Mr Sering Jobe the Alkalo of Serrekunda said he is an ex-student of Serrekunda Lower Basic School. He said that the gesture is not only for the improvement of the block, but will go a long way in providing a conducive environment for pupils.
He urged other students who passed through the school to emulate their colleagues and the school in one way or the other.
