From Bakah Derick in Bamenda
The North
West Secondary Education family has sent a message of gratitude to the
President of the Republic Paul Biya amidst an avalanche of request that can
only tell of a suffering people. The message was made public August 30, 2017
during the beginning of year sector conference for the 2017/2018 academic year.
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NW Governor addressing Secondary Education Sector Conference
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Presenting
what looks like the worries of an average Anglophone or Cameroonian and can put
any one to tears, the teachers message noted that it is imperative that the
President of the Republic “closely monitor and hasten the tarring of all parts
of the Amenda ring road, and the roads within Bamenda City and its environs as
well as hasten the realisation of projects earmarked for the North West region,
notably construction of the Menchum and river Katsina-Ala dams in Menchum
Division.”
Like a
majority of civil servants in Cameroon, the teachers raised the issue of the
working conditions of teachers demanding the adjustment of the last index
point, automatic payment of advance salaries to newly recruited teachers,
absorption of sports and physical education teachers into secondary education,
the signing and implementation of the teacher’s statute, the allocation of
special motivation allowances to teachers working in very difficult areas in
the country, the provision of academic honours with its accompany corresponding
attributes and wards to meritorious teachers.
The message
of gratitude also request “for an increase in the running credits of government
colleges, Divisional and Regional Delegations of secondary Education and
subvention to private schools and the provision of all-weather vehicles to
Divisional Delegates of secondary education in the country so as to the enhance the control and
supervision of the running of colleges”
The motion
of support like message signed by Mombakued Victor Yewoh outgoing delegate of
secondary education NW for the education family also appeals that “the
government to provide security detective devices to schools, prioritise the
convening the national education forum and encourage formation and functioning
of vigilante groups as is done in other regions where security is threaten.”
The message earlier
gratified the president for measures already taken by government and those
underway in a bid to resolve teacher’s problems as presented by the Teacher’s
Trade Unions, the generosity of the Head of State to grant an additional two
billion francs as subvention to private sector of education in the entire
country, measures being taken to ensure that five hundred thousand laptops
promised by the Head of State to all Tertiary Education students are
effectively given deserving University Students, government resolve to assist
education stakeholders in the North West Region and South West Region have a
smooth school year by stepping up of security measures, efforts made to
rehabilitate the Babadjou-Bamenda road, measures put in place to curb
activities of Boko Haram amongst others.
The sectors
conference comes on the heels of an unsatisfactory academic year which
according to the outgoing regional delegate Mombakued Victor Yewoh was marred
by several challenges due to the ineffectiveness of the teaching and learning
process. The delegate regrets the drop in Candidates for examinations, massive
failure at end of course examination, low school attendance, threat to school
administrators, burning and physical destruction of schools, migration of
students to other regions with regular schooling, fear y parents for the safety
of their children during the last school amongst others.
To take the
North West back to the top, the outgoing delegate urged all to take destiny
active part in the back to school endeavour keeping in mind that “schools
remain secret at all times like houses of worship” adding that with the
consultation meeting held so far, increase in filed inspection, capacity
building of administrative personnel, ensuring discipline and sanctioning of
irregular teachers can ensure the region can take her traditional first place
in results across the country.
While the
Secretary General to the Bamenda City Council Jude Waindim will commend
religious authorities and proprietors of schools who who have conquered fear
and are not only ready to open doors but also to teach, the Regional Governor
Adolph Lele L’Afrique will assure everyone of available security to face anyone
who tries to stop school resumption and according to him “anyone who stands on
the way to school is an anathema.”
The 2017/2018 academic year in the region has
been placed under the theme “second generation education for the training of
citizens capable of promoting bilingualism multiculturalism and living
together.
Tags
Politics