Above: from left - Ali Sallah, David Milner, Janet Hughes, Bob Hughes, Sarjo Bajinka, Ken Nicholas, and David Pointon. David, Janet, Bob and Ken travelled overland with David Pointon in January to deliver equipment and toys to the school.

When the school re-opened on September 28, 2009, after the summer holidays Mr Ali Sallah took over as head teacher as Mr Sarjo Bajinka had been movd to the Ministry of Education's Integrated Education Programme (IEP). There were 28 children in the Lower Basic level and four in the pre-school section, making a total of 32 students.

After sitting the Gambia Basic Education Certificate exams three from the GOVI school had been admitted to grade 10 at senior secondary schools. Another who had studied at the GOVI school was promoted to grade 12 and sat the West African Senior School Certificate exam this year. Two others were promoted to grade 11 in their schools, thus making a total number of six students in mainstream schools who have been overseen by two itinerant teachers from the GOVI school.

The special events that students from the GOVI school took part in during the year were: the World White Cane Day in October 2009; Hand Washing Day, also in October, when officers from the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education checked that all school children learnt the importance of keeping their hands clean; World Disability Day in December when the students took part in the march pass and the GOVI school hosted the childrens party afterwards; the 45th Independence Anniversary on February 18; and the celebration of the Gambia's Second Republic on July 22. All the pupils thoroughly enjoyed a party on July 29 thanks to a donation of D10,000 from the President of the Gambia following his annual 'meet the people' tour.

In January a team from the Africa Dental Clinic visited the school to check the children's teeth, give treatment and advise the pupils on how to maintain good dental health. On May 4 all the children were de-wormed as part of the national campaign conducted by the Ministry of Education through its Life Skills Department. The annual cleansing exercise was conducted on May 8 with all the parents helping to make sure that the school campus was clean so that the children could move freely around it.

VISITORS AND SPECIAL TRAINING SESSIONS

In November the pupils were involved when a team from SENSIS International of the Netherlands held a one-week training course for the GOVI school teachers and IEP teachers. This course was on action and interaction training on mathematics for visually impaired children.

In February the teachers from the school and the IEP's itinerant teachers came together again for a two-day course on Braille mathematics and functional vision testing led by Mr David Pointon. He and friends from Wensleydale delivered equipment and toys to the school for what is now the Friends of Visually Impaired Children in the Gambia (FGVI).

Two from RNIP North Ireland visited the school for two days in March and conducted a series of sports and music exercises. This was covered by the Gambia Radio and Television Service. The visitor the RNIB also donated a lot of learning materials.

Mark Freed and his daughter Zoe spent four days at the school assisting as volunteers in June.

June and Phil Feller visited the school in November and May. The head teacher pointed out that the charity of which they are trustees (FGVI) is the main sponsor of the school.

The school closed on July 30 after the final year exams and re-opened on September 27.