President Dispatches His Press Secretary JT Kujabi To Taiwan To Warn Students

By Our Western Region, Chief Correspondent Wise Man

Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh is threatening to suspend scholarships for Gambian students, studying petroleum in Taiwan, following the dismal academic performance of the first batch of students sent to Taipei, to read petroleum, the Freedom Newspaper can authoritatively report. Mr. Jammeh who is said to be very angry at this hour, was reported to have threatened to cancel scholarships for Gambian petroleum students, who our sources say are not faring well in University. Most of the students were said to have failed most of their course subjects. The students were given an extension by the University to improve on their academic shortcomings, or risked being kicked out of school. The students “poor performance” compelled The Gambian leader to dispatch his Press Secretary Ebrima JT Kujabi to Taiwan to talk to the students on what our sources described as the “ regrettable state of affairs.” Press Secretary JT Kujabi informed the students on arrival in Taipei, about the President’s stern warnings for the need to improve on their studies, or otherwise all scholarships would be cancelled.

The first batch of  students, who were recruited by the sacked Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service Mamburay Njie, were supposed to complete their petroleum degree program, within four years, but well placed sources close to the State House in Banjul, said most of the students had failed miserably in their studies.

Under the circumstances, continued our sources, the students have no alternative, but to spend additional years in Taipei to pursue their petroleum studies. The University had placed the students on probation, until such a time that they meet the necessary coaching requirements for an academic improvement. Students not living up to the University’s expectations, might be withdrawn from school for non performance.

State House sources blamed the student’s poor performance to what they call “biased selection exercise” spearheaded by the erstwhile Secretary General Mamburay Njie. Mr. Njie who was aided and abetted by a handful of other panelists, has been accused of selecting the wrong people to read petroleum in Taipei. Sources say most of the students selected to read petroleum in Taiwan, came from the Jolla ethnic group and were not qualified for the petroleum degree program.

Sources said President Jammeh also forwarded a list of students to the selection board for approval, which was okayed by Mamburay Njie and his group. Students selected for the Petroleum degree program, said our sources were never screened to ascertain their academic backgrounds.

“ The mere fact that he is sponsoring the students, does not mean that anyone is qualified for the petroleum program. You see the disgrace, these students have brought to the President and the country. From what we are getting, a significant number of the students had failed in almost all their course subjects. They are not qualify for graduation. They have to spend some more years in Taipei to accomplish their reading task. This is a shame for The Gambia and her people. Our funds are going into the drains for nothing.” said a Permanent Secretary at the office of the President.

Meanwhile, University authorities in Taipei, have issued warning letters to the Gambian petroleum students, lamenting about their dismal performance in school. The students were advised to improve on their reading or risked being expelled from the University.

Concerned by these developments, The Gambian leader, recently delegated his Press Secretary Ebrima JT Kujabi to meet the non performing students. Kujabi was quoted as saying that the Gambian leader was increasingly worried by the students “ poor performance.” He informed the students that if the current trend continues, they might have their scholarships cancelled.

The students were told to take their studies seriously. The President we gathered, was banking on the first batch of the petroleum students to help explore Gambia’s oil fortunes, which was discovered some years ago by a Canadian oil firm. The President’s expectations has been shattered, as the students failed in most of their course subjects.

An official of the Taiwanese Embassy in Banjul, when contacted for comment, confirmed the story. The official who spoke on condition of anonymity says the students dismal performance was brought to their attention. The official said Taiwan had strict educational policies and for students to be awarded degrees, they must excel well in school.

The Freedom Newspaper contacted independent sources in Taiwan, who also confirmed the students poor performance in school. “ Most of the students selected for the Petroleum degree program are not qualified. They are finding it very hard to pass their exams. It’s better for the President to withdraw them from the University, because they will never make it. They have denied genuine competent Gambians scholarship and are now paying for the price.” said a Gambian student in Taipei.