Education For All campaign Network - EFANet

EFANet is set to commemorate Global Action Week for Education (GAWE) 2022 on the theme: 'Protect Education in Emergencies Now' from the 17th to 21st April 2022. In light of this, a planning meeting was held at the EFANet Secretariat on the 27th April 2022 by the GAWE Planning Committe and the Secretariat to developed a plan of action and strategies for the events of the week.

The theme of this year's celebration is an urgent call on states, world leaders, and the international community to protect education in light of the major emergencies happening around the world looking at the attack on Ukraine and other countries in conflicts that has affected the right to education of millions of people around the world. The theme is also looking at the impact of COVID-19 on education and other challenges like climate change, poverty, political instability and other factors that are hindering access to education.

The unfortunate incident in Foni has also affected the right to education of the students in the affected region.

These children in the affected regions both internationally and nationally need our voice. Education is a MUST for every child and their right to education MUST be respected and protected.


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EFANet Programme Officer, Mrs. Margaret Adama Jallow attended the launching ceremony of FIOH/TANGO/FAWEGAM STAR project which is funded by EU for 3years under the broad programme referred to as CSO Watchdog: Strengthening Transparency, Accountability and Resilience in The Gambia (STAR).

The aim of the project is to enhance the involvement and participation of CSOs/NGOs/Private sector in the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) and its successor with special attention to education in The Gambia. It is also aimed at complementing the government's efforts as partners in development in the implementation of the NDP.

The project focus areas are on Education, Peace-building, Gender relations, Environmental restoration and Climate change mitigation and Adaptation measures and beneficiaries are Women, Youths, Children, Differently able persons, Media, CSOs, School Authorities, Traditional Communicators and Inter-party Committees.

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“I am scared of the fight, I want the government to do something and stop the fight because I want to go back to school and continue with my education;” said Fatou Jarju, a grade 6 student in Bwiam.

On the 18th March 2022, the Coalition went for a fact finding in West Coast Region, Foni on the conflict in Cassamace which also affect the boarder villages in The Gambia and has led to the closure of some schools such as Arangallen, Simon, Tamba, Kappa, St Edward's, Singapore, Fatima Kanilia, Kanfenda and Kanling Madarasa.

We urge MoBSE to act urgently and solve the situation as we believe no matter the circumstances, Education Cannot Wait.

Women and children including students in grades 9 and 12 are displaced as a result of this clash which we frowned as an education advocacy group hence these students are preparing to sit for their external exams which they cannot afford to miss.

Break All Bias, happy International Women's Day from EFANet

EFANet joins the rest of the world to wish all the phenomenal women a Happy International Women's Day 💜, We have recognised all the efforts contributing to the socio economic development of the world and shall continue to do so. The theme for this year is "Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow;" this aims to build a more sustainable future for the women. We need a world free from discrimination, stereotype, abuse and violence against women and we want to see more educated women in the future.

Counterpart International paid a courtesy call to EFANet Secretariat on the 24th of February, 2022. The purpose of the visit is for familiarization on the Coalition’s work, mission, vision and mandate. It was also meant for the visiting team to brief the Coalition on the project they intend to implement in The country on School feeding.
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The three day Retreat for EFANet's Staff and Board members to review the Coalition's operational documents and come up with solutions for the betterment of the Coalition commenced on Friday 17th and will end on Sunday 19th December, 2021 in Kiang Tendaba Camp, LRR.

Ongoing: currently at National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority (NAQAA) Conference Hall, validating the research findings on the Level of Teachers' Support & Lesson Delivery On Quality Basic Education In The Gambia🇬🇲.

The purpose of this validation is to engage our member organisations, policy makers (NAMs Education Select Committee), MOBSE staff, teachers, students, Cluster Monitors and our partners on the research findings so that we can have their inputs into the research document by coming up with tangible recommendations before its finalisation.

The final research document will be used for further engagement with MoBSE and Policy Makers for implementation. It is important to note that Teachers are the fundamental pillars of education in The world and Gambia is no exception. Thus, all the challenges hindering their delivery need to be addressed for effective learning outcomes to be achieved.

The Board Chairperson of EFANet, Mr. Bakary Badjie attended the ANCEFA Policy Forum and General Assembly to elect its new Board of Directors from the 22nd-26th November 2021 in Dakar, Senegal. Mr Badjie who attended the forum on behalf of the coalition was elected as a Borad member as part of ANCEFA Board for 2022-2023. Congratulations Chairman-Mr. Badjie, more wins 👏

EFANet is looking for an external evaluator for the Education Out Loud (EOL)Project implementation 2020-2021. Qualify candidates are encourage to apply via email [email protected]. for further details please do not hesitate to call EFANet Secretariat on 9947441/2947717 or 2481117

The monitoring team also had a meeting with the staff of the Secretariat, members of the Board and Coalition members to discuss the activities of the Coaliton as well as inform them on the successes and challenges of the network.

EFANet received a Team from OXFAM-IBIS for a monitoring visitors in persons of Lars Udsholt- the Global Programme Manager Of Education Out Loud (EOL) and Romain Diatta the Regional MEL Officer for OXFAM-IBIS on the 18th of October 2021. The team intends to meet with the Coalition members and partners as well as the Secretariat staff to be updated on the activities of the Coaliton as well as its partnership and networking amongst members and partners from the 18th- 20th October 2021. Thus, the visiting team together with EFANet Board and National Coordinator paid a courtesy call to the Permanent Secretary of MoBSE on the 18th October to inform him about the purpose of their visit to The Gambia and possible areas for partnership.

EFANet Region 6 chapter (URR), together with the Regional Education Directarate (RED) 6 on the 1st of October conducted a community sensitization on Enrollment, Retention and Completion as well as to urge the Parents and Guardians to send their children to school for full realisation of their potential in the future.

Thanks to our able Facilitator, Mr. Essa Sowe, Deputy General Secretary of GTU for the great presentation, it was indeed a very educative and participatory session.

The engagement with Stakeholders to review the gaps in Education Sector Policy 2016-2030 and programs with focus on "Access to Education " has ended today.
Thanks all the participants, together we can make a great change.

Day 1: Retreat with Stakeholders to review the gaps in Education Sector Policy 2016-2030 and programs currently ongoing at AbCa's Creek Lodge in Foni Bintang. The objective of the retreat is to review the gaps in the policy and identify recommendations for redress.

International Literacy Day (ILD) is celebrated annually on the 8th September to remind the world on the importance of Education as human rights and the reason for advancement. This year is celebrated under the theme "Literacy for a human-centered recovery:Narrowing the digital divide " with a focus on Covid-19 which has disrupted the education of many children, according to UNESCO, there are still challenges with at least 773million young and adults lacking basic Literacy skills despite the progress made. The Pandemic is reminding us to explore other options in education by the use of hybrid technology for the attainment of SDG4 and Gambia Education Sector Policy 2016-2030.

Miss Adama Sarr from The Gambia Federation of Disabled (GFD) giving a statement on the importance of inclusive education and the need for persons with disabilities to have equal education opportunities with their counterparts. Disability doesn't mean inability, more expertise should be trained to ensure that people with disabilities are adequately catered for in the education system.

Aida Badjie Colley from MoBSE SNE unit as the Facilitator presenting on the current realities of the status of inclusive education, disability friendly schools and SNE teachers. Her presentation is extremely impressive.

The third and final day of the engagement with Stakeholders to make school disability friendly in WestCoast Region, Foni. All inclusive education should be everyone's business since disability doesn't discriminate anyone.

Day 2 of the engagement with Stakeholders to make school disability friendly. The Coalition is expecting to receive recommendations that will further help in the advocacy for all inclusive education.
Currently in Wassu, CRR North.

Currently in Kerewan,NBR on a three (3)days engagement with Stakeholders to make school disability friendly & to increase the number of trained & qualified special need education (SNE) teachers.

Announcement Script Template

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I Dr Isatou Touray Ceesay, the Vice President of Republic of The Gambia am honored and privileged to announce the domestic financing commitment on education on behalf of my Government THE GAMBIA, is committed to support our national education sector by appropriating the following percentage share of the national budget from 2021-2025.

For countries that just protect below 20% (i.e. no increase):

The Gambia is committed to support our national education sector by protecting the share of the national budget dedicated to education, despite fierce competition for resources in the face of the COVID pandemic and its aftermath. Currently we have allocated 14% of national resources to education, and we commit to ensure this share will be increase to 20% will not diminish through up to the year 2025

Thank you very much!

That's the commitment from The Gambian Government to increase fund for education from 2021-2025

Global Education Summit 2021 has ended yesterday 29th July, 2021 and GPE was able to raised $4billion for education. 19 Heads of State and Governments committed to spend at least 20% of their national budget on education. The Gambia government pledge or commitment was nowhere mentioned.

The Coalition regret to announced the demise of Mr Bakary Fadera, a member of the EFANet Board of Directors as a staff of ActionAid The Gambia. Our condolence is extended to his entire family and staffs of ActionAid. May Allah SWT grant his soul and the soul of all the departed Jannatul firdaws and forgive their shortcomings.
Amen🙏 🙏

The EFANet Secretariat will go on a break from Monday 19th to Friday 23rd July, 2021 in observance of Eid al-Adha.
The Coalition is Wishing all its Members, Partners and all Muslims happy Eid Mubarak, May Allah accept all our prayers. AMEN🙏

On Tuesday 13th July, 2021, the Coalition paid a visit to the Hon. Minister and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education(MoBSE) to sign a commitment letter of Increasing domestic financing for Education ahead of the global education summit to be held in July 28th and 29th in UK(London).

We believe education is a necessary foundation for achieving all development goals in particular education, health, gender equality, poverty reduction amongst a host of other development goals. The Covid-19 pandemic has negatively impacted on education and over 250million children across the globe are likely to drop out of school. We urge the government to make a commitment on education financing and increase funds for education to at least 20%of the national budget
Thank you Hon Minister for signing the commitment Paper👏

The windstorm that occurred on the 7th July, 2020 has caused destruction to many families, loss of lives, power failure and even some schools were affected as well. Some classroom roof were gone, library and exam was delayed due to power failure and couldn't print out the exam question papers.
We are urging the government to act fast and respond to the situation before the next academic year since education cannot wait even in terms of crisis.

Good day to all our followers, to all those applying for the consultancy job on this page are recommended to forward their applications via email: [email protected]

Thank you

The Coalition is looking for a consultant to conduct a Capacity Needs Asessment and Training for its Members. Apply if interested