The registrar of Gambia College Mr. Demba Ceesay Has pointed out that students with disability would be embraced with open arms at his college.

He said Gambia College is an equal opportunity provider for post secondary school education. Mr. Ceesay further said that even though there are over two thousand students registered with the college, but number of students with disability is only eight, thereby making up less than one percent of the student population.
However, Mr. Ceesay attributed the dismal number of students with disability at the college to what he called failure of persons with disability to apply for admission saying priority has been given to the few who applied.
The Gambia college registrar further explained that his institution has a history of providing education for persons with disability.
He said just few years back, some blind and partially sighted students completed their programmes at the college. He stated that with collaboration from GOVI resource centre that sent mobile teachers to the college, those visually impaired people were able to thrive and complete their courses.
He also cited that his college has educated some people with mild hearing problems. The education of people with mild hearing problem he said was made possible with cooperation and collaboration with the St. John’s school for the deaf and hard of hearing. He stated that lecturers at the college have always given special attention to persons with disability.
Nevertheless, the college registrar admitted that physically challenged people have grappled with accessing the college as there are no rams to enhance their mobility.
He acknowledged that the topography of the college is such that it does not support the free movement of persons with physical disability.
He stated that when the college was newly conceived the movement of persons with physical disability was not taken into consideration. However, the Gambia college registrar remarked that his institution is reversing this trend by erecting disability friendly structures.
According to him, the college’s new structures do cater for the movement of physically handicapped including wheelchair users. Mr. Ceesay further lamented that none of their lecturers are specialist in special needs, saying although they have some training on how to teach special students.
He explained that a special needs unit has been set up to encourage teachers to get training.
Registrar Ceesay stated that at the moment the college lacks specialist, but got some through cooperation with their partners such as Peace Corps and voluntary service overseas who have a background in special needs.
He added that in-house training is also provided for their lecturers with a view to enable them handle students with special needs. He stated that even though students with disability are welcome at the Gambia College but because of lack of expertise the college cannot as at now handle persons with severe disability such as totally deaf and mentally retarded.
He however pointed out that Gambia College is aware of lack of capacity in the said area and it is making effort to build capacity in the area of special needs. Commenting on the performance of students with disability, Mr. Ceesay said they have done well especially in the areas of English and literature; noting most often struggle in the sciences. He indicated that all the students with disability have completed their course at the college which he descried as an achievement in itself. Ceesay said not all non-disabled students complete their course at the college. So if persons with disability can endeavor to complete their course, that is a tremendous achievement,’ he said.
Mr. Demba Ceesay used the opportunity to encourage persons with disability to apply for Gambia College saying the college is there for all regardless of background, gender and disability.