School students banned from GAMSU 

A code of conduct for schools in The Gambia currently being issued in schools across the country has been described as unconstitutional and an attack on students' human rights by parents who have been told to sign the document. 

The code of conduct was drafted on 19th April at a meeting of representatives from the Conference of Junior Secondary School Principals, the Conference of Senior Secondary School Principals and the Gambia Teachers Union Executive. 

The code contains a number of clauses relating to attendance, payment of fees, wearing of uniforms and other internal matters. 

However, also contained are clauses that say that 'no school student should be a member of the Gambia Students' Union (GAMSU) which is a union for students in tertiary institutions' (Clause I (9.2)), 'clandestine affiliation with unapproved unions, clubs or other such groups will result in indefinite suspension' (Clause II (9.2)) and 'engagement in strikes and demonstrations could result in expulsion' (Clause II (11)). 

At a meeting with parents at Brikama Junior Secondary School on Thursday 4 th May, the school's principal, Mrs Loum, said the code was designed to 'help and guide' students and improve their study conditions. 

However she later walked out of the meeting after angry parents tried to question the validity of the code. A number of parents refused to sign the document and claimed it was against the constitutional rights of their children. 

The Information Secretary of GAMSU, Mr Saja Camara said that contrary to what was contained in the code of conduct, GAMSU was a union for all students, both school students and students in tertiary institutions. 

A number of members of the GAMSU executive are school students and prior to the code, school students membership of the union was not questioned. 

Mr Camara said he had received reports that the code was being implemented in schools across the country, with parents being called to sign the document. 

He said GAMSU was very concerned about the code of conduct and said the union's lawyers were prepared to challenge it in the courts. 'Clearly this will obstruct the operation of the union,' he said. 

Under the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, 1997, Section 25 (1) states 'every person shall have the right to..(d) freedom to assemble and demonstrate peaceably and without arms; (e) freedom of association, which shall include freedom to form and join associations and unions, including political parties and trade unions.' 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------------