By Mariam Williams
Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO) in partnership with Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation (MiSK Foundation), together with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Culture Organisation (UNESCO), recently supported the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) with television equipment worth over 1.4 million dalasis, at a presentation held in MoBSE Office in Banjul. The various media apparatuses are meant to support the development of digital content of the MoBSE TV.
The items donated included two (2) pieces of Camcorder 4k with accessories, one (1) desktop server backup, one (1) piece of my book TB desktop backup, three (3) pieces of Amazon UK integral 128GB SD card 4K video premium high speed, two (2) pieces of LED light GVM 50RS2L light kit with accessories, three (3) pieces of HDMI-micro HDMI, editing desktop IMac (upgraded RAM), one (1) piece of Web presenter with Atem and eGPU, One (1) piece of Atem Television studio with hyper deck mini, two (2) pieces of UPS system light backup, one (1) piece of HDMI-VGA, One (1) piece professional tripod+support for smartphone, two (2) pieces of 128GB SD card, one (1) laptop with Webcam megapixel+video editing software.
Speaking at the presentation, Ms. Maimuna Sidibeh, Principal Programme Officer of NATCOM, explained that the Gambia National Commission for UNESCO and the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ICESCO) have provided MoBSE with the state-of the-art equipment and technology for an efficient and cost control production and broadcast of Television content.
She pointed out that the donated materials are very much complimentary to what the MoBSE TV already had, which would allow for the creation of recordings, film clips, Programs, documentaries and so on. Sidibeh indicated NATCOM’s belief that the MoBSE TV would now have efficient transcoder system, production storage systems and high end audio editing, video editing and post production; as she noted also that the materials would suitably enhance TV coverage filming and editing as mentioned earlier.
“I have no doubt that you are aware that some of these equipment are very delicate and fragile. It is therefore, NATCOM’s wish to see that they will all be handled with the utmost professional care,” the Principal Programme Officer told the beneficiaries.
She invoked the popular dictum that ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’. Hence, it goes without saying that the EduTV Gambia will be able to measure up to the existing public and private television stations and even beyond, Sidibeh opined,
For his part, Permanent Secretary Mr. Louis Moses Mendy of MoBSE, assured the providers that the equipment would be put into good use, and “will go a long way in up scaling the ministry’s outreach”.
The Ministry’s Number 2 further stated that the equipment support would make a profound impact in complimenting their Ministry’s efforts to develop and deliver lessons through the multiple medium of teaching and learning currently provided by MoBSE.
Given the high sophistication of the equipment, the ministry is assured of better development and delivery of educational content to students as they continue to stay at home.
Other speakers included Ms. Emily M. Gomez, Head of the Communication Unit at MoBSE, who thanked ICESCO and partners for the support.
