Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issues
Issue No. 40/2005, 24-25 May 2005
Editorial
THE UNIVERSITY AND ITS PROBLEMS
Universities are the foundation for the development of modern nations. They provide nations with doctors, engineers, scientists, social thinkers, planners, teachers and other experts in all fields of human endeavour. They provide opportunity for research, innovation and inventions. Universities serve as leading institutions for the promotion of production and social organisation.
After independence many countries inherited educational systems which serve the colonialists interest rather than give access to education to the rural and urban poor Finance became a major hindrance to the attainment of higher education.
Farming families who could not earn enough to free themselves from barefootedness and huts could not shoulder the cost of University education. Hence many governments included Universities as social services which are sustained through the normal budgeting system. The departments and ministries of education include the maintenance of a certain number of students annually to receive university education in their annual budgets.
This is often referred to as free university education. The actual fact is that the universities were maintained by the tax money of the people.
The growth of huge bureaucracies and mismanagement of resources undermined the provision of social services in many developing countries especially the institutions of higher learning. The current situation of the University of the Gambia needs to be looked at. The University has no campus. The students are mainly from poor families. The public funds allocated are not sufficient to meet fees of the students. Currently, students are simply taking classes without any sponsorship of their education. They lack texts books and means to photocopy documents. Their motivation is their only asset. There is need to address the crisis that is unfolding where students spend years in school without normal enrolment. This means that they will not be able to get their certificates unless they pay their fees.
A commission needs to be established to look into the problems of the University to find a solution.
Halifa Sallah Interviewed On
NADD + By-Elections
In this interview, conducted before the nomination for the Nianija by-election, Halifa Sallah, the Coordinator discusses the launching of NADD and the by-elections in Nianija Constituency and Njau Ward.
Foroyaa: Finally, the launching.
Halifa: Yes the launching is scheduled for 29 May, 2005.
Foroyaa: Where?
Halifa: At the buffer Zone between Tallinding and Latrikunda Sabiji.
Foroyaa: Time?
Halifa: 4 pm onwards.
Foroyaa: What should the public expect?
Halifa: All the members of the executive of the various parties will be present as well as the Chairperson of the Executive Committee of NADD and the Coordinator. Speeches will be delivered to enable the people to know how NADD will conduct its politics. The leaders have discussed and have finally established NADD. It is necessary to explain NADD’s vision and mission to the people so that they can take ownership of it. The primary role of NADD is to enhance concerted effort to empower the people. The launching will enable people to know how this will be done to create a new foundation for multiparty contests after NADD’s term in office.
Foroyaa: Some people are expecting differences to surface at the launching.
Halifa: This is why supporters and sceptics alike should witness the launching in order to make their own fair assessment of NADD’s potential. The NADD MOU, Constitution, Cassettes on the signing ceremony, symbols, and stickers will be in circulation at a reasonable cost, as a fund raising drive. Those affiliated to NADD should give generously to enable NADD to stand on a strong footing.
Foroyaa: The nomination for Nianija and Njau by-elections are to take place on the 23rd and 24th May respectively. You indicated to Foroyaa that the former NRP Councillor could not lose his seat by defection. What then is the basis of the by-election in Njau ward?
Halifa: I did say that I had been asked to write to the IEC to seek clarification on the Njau seat. The IEC did confirm that it was necessary for the councillor to address a resignation letter to the Chairperson of the Janjanbureh Area Council as the authority established by the local government Act. They conveyed to us that the Chairperson had informed the IEC that the Ex Councillor had submitted his resignation letter. In this light we considered the seat to be vacant because of the resignation and not because of defection.
Foroyaa: Is NADD going to contest the election?
Halifa: NADD is going to contest both the Nianija and Njau by-elections.
Foroyaa: Does NADD have a following in the two areas?
Halifa: Njau is in Upper Saloum which is currently an opposition seat. In Nianija it is an election where the power of the people is being tested by the APRC executive who decided to remove the National Assembly members against their wish.
Foroyaa: There were rumours that they refused to allow NADD to hold a meeting at the Buffer Zone.
Halifa:NADD sympathisers should not rely on rumours. They should ask questions and we will clarify. The time has come for people to know the truth and we will tell them the truth. This is what will put an end to rumours. NADD will hold its launching at the Buffer Zone on 29th May, 2005.
Foroyaa: There are also rumours that the registration of NADD is wrong because it is not supported by the constitution of the various member parties. What is your view?
Halifa: Only the Supreme Court can determine whether an Alliance is constitutional or unconstitutional. Ofcourse we have read the views of backstreet lawyers on this issue. In my view, there is no party constitution that fails to empower its executive to enter into negotiations and agreements. Those who are trying to find faults are simply desperate.
Foroyaa: Have the Executive said anything about the opposition seats in the National Assembly as insinuated in the Observer?
Halifa: Everything written in the Observer is the view of someone. This is what makes a democratic society. People have their opinions, they are free to express them. In all democratic countries when parties form alliances and mergers those who were elected under the ticket of the member parties of the Alliance retain their party tag until the next elections. When they are obliged to take on an alliance tag. This is why section 91 of the constitution makes exception that members of political parties who join alliances do not lose their seats by virtue of section 91 (d) of the Constitution which calls for vacation of seat of one who is no longer a member of the party which one was a member of when one was elected. Anyway, those who have any queries regarding the alliance can go to the Supreme Court for action to line with the principles of the rule of the law. NADD is here to stay. What is expected of the APRC leadership is to conform their politics to the mature politics NADD is
pioneering on the side of the opposition. If they fail to do so history will leave them on the wayside.
EX SGT. JAMMEH AND BALDEH IN COURT
By Yaya Dampha
On Thurday, 19th May, 2005, two ex army Sergeants in the persons of Musa Jammeh and Seedy Baldeh who were incarcerated in the cells for a number of months after being arrested from their posting in Kanilai and later taken to a court-martial (military court), were arraigned before Magistrate Bubacarr Jawo of the Brikama Magistrates Court, on charges of stealing.
According to the particulars of offence, Musa Jammeh and Seedy Baldeh, between the months of October 2003 and March 2004, at Kanilai in the Republic of The Gambia, by virtue of their employment, jointly stole the sum of two hundred and fifteen (D215,000) thousand dalasis, being wages for workers at Kanilai farm.
When the charges were read to the accuse persons in court, they both pleaded not guilty. The Police Prosecutor A.S.P Tijan Badjie at this point applied for an adjournment, noting that the police are not yet ready with their investigation. A.S.P Badjie further told the court that the case was first with the NIA and later it was transferred to the Police. He said the accused persons were earlier on arraigned before a court-martial and were subsequently dismissed from the army. The prosecution also applied for the accused persons to be remanded in custody to allow the team of investigators to complete their investigation. He expressed the for fear that if the accused are released on bail, they might tamper with the investigation, noting that the accused were powerful men in the army.
In his ruling, presiding Magistrate Bubacarr Jawo adjourned the case till the 25th of May, 2005 and ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison , to allow the team of investigators to complete their investigation.
COURT REFORM INEVITABLE
By Emil Touray and Amie Sannah
The rigorous validation exercise embarked on by members of the legal profession, which is aimed at revising court rules and the use of information and communication technology to support the subordinate and high courts, continued at the Banjul High Court on Friday. The programme which took place at the Paradise Suites from Monday to Thursday last week, was moved to the Banjul High Court in view of the fact that the legal practitioners were unable to finish the exercise in four days.
According to the Acting Judicial Secretary, Gaye Sowe, the main objective of the validation of the court rules is to expedite proceedings and ensure the conclusion of high court cases in one year. Mr Sowe said that the programme is also funding the revision of the rules of Cadi Courts and District Tribunals; whilst stating that the programme is concluding an impact assessment as well as future needs of assessment.
"As a requirement under the programme, a taskforce was created, led by Justice Jallow, to implement the governance activities in the judiciary. In 2001, three main communities were formed to focus on High Court rules, Magistrate court rules and information, communication and technology. The taskforce thereafter held series of seminars and consultation appointed by the UNDP. The draft rules presented by the consultants as being contrary to instruction" Gaye said.
According to him, another consultant Mrs. Janet Sallah Njie was appointed and the task force held several consultative meetings with her. He pointed out that the consultant later produced draft rules. "You will agree with me that there is an urgent need for other High Court Rules and subordinate Court Acts and rules to be changed because they are not only inflexible in some cases but also cumbersome in many respects. A change in our rules is supposed to improve the ability to decide cases on their merits and speed the trial process." He remarked.
Former Attorney General and current President of the Gambia Bar Association, Musa Bittaye, said the Draft rules for the High court and the magistrates court that are the subjects for the seminar, are beneficial according to the consultants from English, Nigerian, Ghanaian and Sierra Leonean Rules of practice and procedures. He said this development did not surprise the Gambian Bar which has over the years, benefited from the rich jurisprudence of these countries.
In his speech, the country Representative of the UNDP, John Kakonge, observed that the effective administration and dispensation of justice constitute key elements to ensuring good governance.
"The role of the judiciary in this process is not only to administer justice and to contribute to the maintenance of the rule of law, but also to adjudicate and resolve disputes in an independent manner that is affordable, efficient, effective and accessible to all," he said.
Nianija/Njau Nomination
Yesterday, nomination took place in Janjanbureh for a by-election for the Nianija National Assembly seat, which became vacant Dawda Bah was expelled from the APRC. Dawda Manneh was nominated by the APRC while Abdoulie Jallow was nominated by NADD, the newly formed alliance of five opposition parties.
The nomination for candidates for a by-election for the councillor seat for Njau ward has been scheduled for today. It is anticipated that APRC will nominate Horoja Ceesay while NADD will nominate Channeh Ceesay.
Both the Nianija constituency by-election and the Njau Ward by-election are scheduled for 9th June, 2005.
We shall publish a detailed report of the nomination in the next issue.
DoSE UNDER THE MICROSCOPE OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Part 12
Foroyaa has been publishing the report of the National Assembly Select Committee on Education and Training Submitted to the National Assembly for Approval. In this issue, we publish the revelation on the University of the Gambia.
In regard to the University, the report reveals that the University of The Gambia was launched in 1999 by an Act of Parliament after the phasing out of the University Extension Programme (UEP), supported by St. Mary’s University, Halifax, Canada. It started operations in October 1999 with an enrolment of:-
i. 25 Medical students
ii. 16 students offering HND Construction Management, Humanities and Social Services and Science and Agriculture.
The report indicates that the first Vice Chancellor, an internationally renown scholar, the late Professor Donald E.U Ekong, was seconded to the institution by the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC) and served as the first Vice Chancellor from October 1999 until his retirement in April 2004. The first batch of academic staff was recruited in 2000 by an international panel of distinguished academicians from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and the West African sub region. According to the report, academic programmes developed through consultation with the panel, government, stakeholders and the University at large.
On Faculties and Student Enrolment
The report reveals that from its inception, the University has maintained four faculties namely:
1. The faculty of Medicine and Applied Health Sciences, which as at December 2004 had 199 students.
2. Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 301 students
3. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences 253 students
The report states that in 2003, at the request of DOSE, the University was mandated to prepare for a Bachelor of Education Programme (with an enrolment of 85 students Headmasters from LBS and 83 from UBS; that the number of students currently enrolled is 1,356, 400 of whom are sponsored by the government.
Staffing
The report reveals that the University currently has a staff complement of 69 full time and 43 part time staff, but there is a heavy reliance on the service of Technical Assistance Personnel, which is both expensive and precarious. It states that the terms of many lecturers on TAS ended about six months ago and have not been replaced or renewed because of bureaucratic procedures and changes in the conditions of appointment. In terms of costs, the report indicates that the University of the Gambia is obliged to provide:-
1. Local accommodation
2. Utility services and
3. Transport allowances
In the case of the former Vice Chancellor and the Registrar, the UTG provided an official car with a driver and fuel. The report reveals that the accommodation cost was D120,000 annually for the Vice Chancellor and D60,000 annually for the registrar. Details of expenditure on accommodation incurred by the University on Technical Assistance Personnel from Nigeria for the year 2004 are provided as follows:
Name/Amount (Dalasi) Per Annum
1. Prof. D.E.U Ekong (V. Chancellor) 120,000
2. Mr. E.J Akpan (Registrar) 60,000
3. Prof. J.O Mogbo (Chemistry) 55,000
4. D.E Illuputaife (Chemistry) 45,000
5. Associate Prof. Hambagda (Management) 60,000
6. Dr. Mary Tapgun (Dermatologist) 40,000
7. Mr. Francis (Illiya) (Shared accommodation) 50,000
8. Prof. C.C Agu, University Guest House
9. Chief Ozoani, University Guest House
10. Chief Okoli, University Guest House
The report went on to reveal that the recruitment of Gambian academic staff has been very slow in spite of persistent efforts on the part of the UTG. According to the report, many Gambian academics studying abroad in the Diaspora are reluctant to "give up" their tenures and are not attracted by the existing remuneration packages. To alleviate this problem, the report revealed that the University Management, with the support of the governing council and the Department of State for Education, submitted a revised compensation budget to the Department of State for Finance and Economic Affairs but that the final outcome is still awaited. It reveals that as a result of relatively low renumeration, compared to levels of compensation in the sub region and Africa in general, the institution faces serious problems in recruitment of adequate high calibre and committed staff for the four faculties and that the problem is particularly acute in the faculty of Economics and Management which at
present virtually relies on the services of part time lectures. It indicates that the clinical division of the faculty of medicine and Allied of Science with full time staff and one Professor (whose term of office has recently expired), heavily relies on the periodic services of visiting lecturers, mostly from Nigeria. It states that expenses incurred on these scholars are very high and include payment of:-
a) Total accommodation
b) Incidental
c) Honorarium of at least US$500
for each visitor; that the actual amount spent on visiting lecturers in 2004 was D1,510,179.
On Financial Situation
The report reveals that the sources of income for the University include tuition fees and subvention from government, which constitute the major sources of income. It also indicates that income derived from research and consultancy is currently limited and capacity in this area is being gradually developed. It reveals that fees paid by Gambians annually (in Dalasis) and foreign students (in US$) enrolled in the four faculties are as follows:
Faculty Gambians Foreigners
Medicine and Allied Health Science 18,000 3,000
Science and Agriculture 16,000 2,500
Humanities & Social Sciences 14,000 2,000
Economic & Management 14,000 2,000
The report goes on to reveal that through the open scholarship fund, government sponsors 400 students and is supposed to pay their tuition fees and stipends of D4,000 for each student. The report states that the disbursement of tuition fees by government for sponsored students have been irregular and unsatisfactory. The table below provides a breakdown of the disparities between actual fees and stipends payable and actual amounts received from government.
Scholarship Amount Paid and Allocated
Year Amount in Dalasis
2002 Amount allocated 4,840,000
2002 Actual fees and stipend 7,398,000
Difference 2,558,000
2003 amount allocated 5,000,000
Difference 2,498,000
2004 amount allocated 6,000,000
2004 actual fees and stipend 6,888,000
Difference 888,000
The report reveals that the payment of the other sources of income, the subvention, is equally fraught with problems and that subvention, which is paid on a quarterly basis, is always well below allocation in the approved budget, and the persistent funding gaps have necessitated continuous resort to overdraft facilities to maintain basic services. It indicates that an analysis of the picture in respect of payment of fees, stipends and subventions confirms that the levels paid by government annually are always substantially below budgetary provisions and that the total arrears on fees and stipends owed to the University in 2005 is D5,944,00 and that in spite of reconciliation with DoSE, payment has still not been effected.
See next issue for continuation.
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