Teachers warn that students are exposed to weapons, drug activity and repeated vandalism as they appeal for urgent government intervention
Serekunda Annex Lower Basic School is facing a serious security crisis after thieves reportedly stripped the school of its electrical wiring, while teachers warn that the absence of adequate security has left students and staff exposed to dangerous individuals and criminal activity.
The latest incident occurred over the weekend when thieves reportedly removed the school’s electrical wires, leaving the administration offices without electricity.
“Our electric wires have all been removed. All offices are without electricity. So security is indeed a problem; it is our challenge,” Mrs. Fatou Bah, a senior teacher at the school, said.
The incident is the latest in a series of security-related problems affecting the school.
According to Mrs. Bah, the solar energy system installed at the school as part of efforts to provide sustainable electricity has also been tampered with and is no longer operational.
“Recently, all schools in the area were helped with these solar systems, but it has indeed been tampered with and it is not useful now,” she said.
The school is also struggling with a shortage of furniture, which Mrs. Bah said has forced the administration to abandon between three and four classrooms.
The lack of adequate security, however, remains the most pressing concern.
Mrs. Bah said the school premises are regularly accessed by unauthorised individuals, including people carrying knives.
She also raised concerns about mentally unstable individuals entering the school grounds and alleged that drug users and dealers have been using the premises.
“Every day, you’ll be seeing mad people coming, people coming with knives, and then here even the drug addicts will be using this place to sell their drugs,” she said.
“There is nothing that we can keep in the school, and the school is unsafe.”
The situation has raised concerns about the safety of pupils and teachers and the protection of school property.
School authorities are now appealing to the Government of The Gambia, particularly the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE), to urgently provide security personnel and strengthen security infrastructure at the school.
“The only final message, and appealing to the government of the country through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, is to help us with this security. Because it is indeed a problem,” Mrs. Bah said.
The school community is now calling for immediate action before the deteriorating security situation leads to further damage to school property or puts the lives of students and staff at greater risk.
