By Ndey Sowe
The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), through the Early Childhood and Inclusive Education Directorate (ECIED), is set to develop a sign language dictionary for Gambian Schools.
This initiative, which is funded by the World Bank through the Resilience, Inclusive, Skills and Equity (RISE) project, aims to adopt and harmonize a unique approach to sign language in the teaching and learning processes within Schools for the deaf and hard of hearing.
Speaking after his nationwide stakeholder consultations and assessment of hard-of-hearing Schools in Brikama Jamisa on Friday, October 18, 2024, lead consultant Evans Brurichani expressed satisfaction with the use of sign language as a medium of instruction in Gambian Schools. He said the development of such a dictionary will help schools teach synchronized sign language across The Gambia, enable teachers to accurately convey the correct signs to their students, and bridge the existing gaps and barriers in sign language communication.
“Sign language in The Gambia is not fundamentally different from others, because it varies based on the cultural context. We will convene as stakeholders to determine which signs to adopt methods to implement, and the language to use in our Schools and society. This language will help children express themselves and understand the concepts they are learning,” he explained.
He further emphasized that teachers in deaf Schools should receive training in sign language at Colleges to effectively and confidently teach deaf children.
Aida Badgie, a Senior Education Officer (SEO) at the Early Childhood and Inclusive Education Directorate, thanked the School’s management for their pedagogical teaching approach and said it is child-centered.
Karamo Sanyang, a school principal, expressed gratitude for the team’s visit and highlighted the differences in sign usage among Schools, which complicates communication during community activities.
“With the successful implementation of this project, the deaf community in The Gambia, along with students in such Schools, will achieve a better understanding of sign language, and thereby bridge the communication barrier. It will also assist teachers on how to teach sign language to deaf children by allowing them to refer to the dictionary for guidance, which will ultimately enhance the quality of education,” Mr. Sanyang remarked.
Former GADHOH President and Senior Quranic Sign Language teacher at the School, Mr. Abdou Kadir Drammeh, said the development of a sign language dictionary will significantly benefit both teachers and students in the classroom.
