Summer School

The very first RAISE Gambia Summer School took place over 6 days between the 12th and 21st August 2022 at Jamisa UBS/SSS in Brikama.

The purpose of the Summer School is to support the studies of able but disadvantaged students from the Gunjur, Sifoe and Brikama areas of the Gambia in order to improve their opportunities in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). The Summer School is targeted at students who will be taking public examinations at the end of the following academic year, that is at the end of Grade 9 or the end of Grade 12.

Two or Three students were nominated by each participating school. In total 15 Upper Basic School (UBS) students (9 Boys, 6 Girls) and 15 Senior Secondary School (SSS) students (4 Boys, 11 Girls) took part in the 2022 Summer School. Each student was interviewed by the Raise Gambia Programme Director and their responses regarding family circumstances, educational and career aspirations recorded. All the students were tested in the various subjects before and after the Summer School classes and these results were also recorded.

As well as participation in the Summer School itself the students are supported during the year up to them taking the public examinations and their progress and final results monitored.
The 2022 Summer School was very successful and is being repeated in 2023 and, hopefully, into the future. It has been generously funded by the Marlborough Brandt Group.

Comments from Participating Students
‘The summer school …….. helped me to understand topics in science and mathematics.’ -Malang Saidy (Sifoe UBS)

‘I felt really good and proud because I learnt new things that will help me get better grades in the three subject areas offered by RAISE Gambia.’ -Mustapha Jallow (Brikama UBS)

‘My problem was mathematics and this summer school I have learnt a lot and gained good knowledge and understanding of solving equations.’ -Fatou Bintou Bojang (Sifoe UBS)

‘I am very thankful to RAISE Gambia summer classes. It helps to cover up the WASSCE syllabus.. I am sure that I will be able to obtain good grades in my final examinations. I want to thank the organisers, sponsors, teachers and my fellow students for making RAISE Gambia summer classes a successful one for this year. Thank you’ -Adama Badjie (Bottrop SSS)

‘I really learned a lot and these classes motivated me to work harder at all times. I would like to express my profound gratitude to RAISE Gambia.’ -Musa Manned (Brikama SSS)