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EFANet launches Capacity Building Initiative of School Management Committees-SMCs EFANet launches capacity and training of School Management Committees-(SMCs) activity under the implementation of a project funded by the German BACKUP Initiative/Education in Africa-GIZ. The main aim of the initiative is to strengthen school management and governance in order to enhance learning outcomes by promoting community participation in school development. Thus, the initiative will increase accountability as well as increase grassroots involvement in national education processes and practices. The activity focuses on building the capacity of SMCs to effectively execute their oversight functions. The SMCs is the paramount executive branch elected from the general body of Parent Teachers’ Association-PTA tasked with the responsible of management of schools. The SMCs are recognize management and governance structures of MoBSE which are involved in the day to day work, along with its various sub-communities. Therefore, the purpose of the measure is to usher sustainable change in the education sector through capacity building and training of key stakeholders to enable them better participate in school management and teaching and learning activities. In addition, the training consultations are also aimed at promoting dialogue and sensitizing communities and parents by equipping them with the required skills and knowledge on school management thereby reducing tension and conflict in the management of schools. The training targets a minimum of 5000 SMC members covering at least 715 schools across the six educational regions in the Gambia. A special task team consisting of representatives of various stakeholders and education specialists has been constituted to conduct the training.

EFANet embarked on the capacity building and training of School-SMCs EFANet embarked on the capacity building and training of School Management Committees-SMCs to strengthen the community participation in school management in order to enhance learning outcomes. The initiative is funded by the German BACKUP Initiative for Education in Africa. The activity focuses on building the capacity of SMCs to effectively execute their oversight functions in school management. The SMCs is the paramount executive branch elected from the general body of Parent Teachers’ Association-PTA tasked with responsible for the management of schools. The SMC are recognized management and governance structures of MoBSE which are involved in the day to day work, along with its various sub-communities. A special task team consisting of representatives of various stakeholders and education specialists has been constituted to conduct the trainings. The task team has organized two orientation and preparation meetings on 29th November 2016 and 6th January 2017 in preparation for the exercise. The training that targets a minimum of 5000 SMC members covering at least 715 schools across the country have now began in the Regional Education Directorate 5 & 6 respectively on January 11th 2017. Different sub-teams comprising of trainers and facilators from the special task force were spread out in region 5 and 6 to conduct the training workshops. The training attracted members of the SMC and its sub- committees, school treasurers or auditors as well as SMC chairpersons. The participants also included school heads,head girls, head boys and mothers ‘club representative within the SMC. Regional Education Directorates provided support during the mobilization and training process.The SMCs were trained on school management and governance; roles responsibilities and functions of the SMCs; community participation in school management;School Performance and Monitoring (SPMM) and the School Improvement Planning (SIP). There was large turn- out of participants at training workshops who described the training intervention of the newly elected SMCs as very timely. The initiative was also described as a very significant process in improving community participation in school management.

EFANet Membership Meeting and Capacity Building EFANet organized a three days Membership Meeting and Capacity Building Workshop for its member organizations from the 23rd-25th November, 2016 at the Regional Education Directorate (RED) 1- Kanifing Conference Hall. As part of EFANet’s mandate to influence policy changes by mobilizing, building and strengthening the capacity of Civil Society Organization (CSOs) in order to advocate effectively for the realization of education for all in The Gambia and beyond, EFANet again organized a general meeting for its membership as an opportunity to further enhance networking and share advocacy strategies. The meeting was attended by EFANet member organizations from various institutions as well as partners form the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE). The objective of the meeting was to further strengthen the capacity of members on Leadership and organizational Management, Advocacy Skills and Techniques, Monitoring and Evaluation, National Education Policy 2016-2030 and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on education. The meeting was also meant to consult and share advocacy strategies and information. Speaking at the opening ceremony; Board Chairperson of EFANet, Mrs. Zono Jammeh registered her appreciation to the general members for honoring the invitation. She wholeheartedly welcomed participants and underscored that the main mission of EFANet is to mobilize, build and strengthen the capacity of its members in order to advocate effectively for the realization of Education For All.. Furthermore, she also revealed EFANet organizes quarterly membership meetings and training for its members to consult and share advocacy strategies with one another and to strengthen their capacity in various areas of advocacy.She described the meeting as an opportunity discuss issues and to innovative new ideas in advocacy. She finally pleaded with members to defend the cause of Education for All as a fundamental human right. In addition, Mr. Bakary; Fadera-Programme Officer of Action Aid International The Gambia (AAITG) under Youth and Advocacy, described the occasion as another milestone in enhancing collaboration on the right to education. The National Coordinator of EFANet; Mr. Siyat Gaye reiterated the successes and challenges of EFANet since its inception particularly on the contribution towards the increase in enrolment and retention rates including the through the popularization of the School Improvement Grant (SIG). The Membership organisations also shared their advocacy strategies and programs geared to increasing access to quality education during the three day meeting and promised more collaboration in their advocacy efforts.