UK couple built modern toilet facility to Bijilo School.

PTA Faal with the UK couples

By Abou Rahman Sallah

Jim Bell and Collette Senior a UK based couple on Friday 21^st March witness the inauguration of a newly constructed modern toilet facility for Bijilo Lower Basic School financed by the couple, a ceremony held at the school ground.

The facility is eight in one with flush toilets, water and washing basins for students to wash their hands with running water after every used according to Mr Baboucarr Tambedou contractor for the toilet facility.

Tambedou pointed out that, the contract was awarded to him by Mr Almamy Fadera retired head master, whom he said had a good working relation for years. Adding that, the toilet facility must be kept clean and tidy to ensure convenience in using the toilet, thus for durability purposes.

For her part, Madam Isatou Joof deputy head mistress of Bijilo Lower Basic School said it all began when Jim Bell visited the school on the 10^th January 2011. After he had (Jim) had a fruitful discussion with the school authorities and was later taken round to see the school premises for any possible intervention.

According to her, Bijilo Lower Basic School was establish in 1977 and the current enrolment is 1254 out of which 663 are girls and its operates both morning and afternoon shift.

She commended the Jim and Collette for their timely intervention and appeal for the expansion of the facility to be able to meet the demanding services.

“The old pit latrines are out of use and the concentration on the newly built modern facility will be high”, she emphasized.

She also appeal for construction of more classroom blocks to be able to accommodate all the children in one shift because some parents still don’t agreed about the double shift.

Highlighting some of the intervention made by the couple (Jim and Collette) Mr. Baboucarr Kijera senior teacher attested that they provided both financially and materials to strengthen the school garden.

Jim Bell for his part, express gratitude for the warm welcome accorded to him and his wife Collette Senior, saying that all the credits goes to people of UK who has been supporting our dream to become reality.

According to him, he works in a trade union and some part of the funds was raised from there and from individuals which is used to support the school.

Noting that, there are many plans ahead but the school authorities must come up with their priority needs to be supported, while commending Kebba Fatty and the ex-head master for been part of the initiative.

Assan Faal chairman of parent teacher association express appreciation for what he described as timely intervention because it was a great concern for the school authorities.

Mariam Njasang Manneh head girl of the Bijilo Lower Basic School said with the provision of modern toilet facility will save time and energy for our classes. ”We spent a lot of time fetching water to be used in the pit-latrines which could have been used in class”, she added.

Adding that, she will arrange with the school administration to provide basic demonstration on how to use the toilet facility to ensure proper handling of the facility. She commended the couple for their unflinching support towards their education.

The ceremony was chaired by Mr Sylvester Jarjue head master of Bijilo Lower Basic School, thus appeal for more support for the school.