CI-NEWS

Basic Education Sector Conference brainstorms on hitch-free 2019-2020 academic year for NW.

2019-09-01

No: 444

Basic Education Sector Conference brainstorms on hitch-free 2019-2020 academic year for NW.

By Etoh Anzah George in Bamenda.

Only 6 out of 34 divisions that make up the North West region could boast of classes in the last two academic years. To reverse this trend for 2019-2020, education stakeholders held a section conference to review their registered flaws ahead of a fresh academic year. "School: an ideal environment for the acquisition of skills necessary for the promotion of peace and living together in view of sustainable development" was the theme that gathered school heads, divisional and regional service heads, administrative officials in a redefining course of the educational run way for the academic year.

Cognizant of the Anglophone crisis that has since hampered school activities with frontline separatist leaders and fighters clamouring for an effective school boycott, the teachers and stakeholders took out time to refresh their minds on some basic needs and essentialities in schools as well as reviewed, evaluated, appraised, enlisted and drafted resolutions to be forwarded to the government under whose umbrella they have been recruited.

Aware that hygiene and sanitation must be observed in schools, the teachers were reminded of the necessity of drinkable water, given the tender nature of pupils of the basic education sector. On the acceptable formula W.A.S.H where in W stands for Water, A for Access, S for Sanitation and H for hygiene, it was therefore concluded thanks to presentations that good schools are definitely WASH schools. This is coming at the backdrop of the discovery of cholera amongst localities in Far North region where children of this age returned from FENASCO games.

Those in attendance included the secretary general at the NW Governor’s Office,Harry Lanyuy; Assistant Divisional Officer for Mezam, Divisional Officers for Bamenda 1, 2 and 3 , and mayors of some municipalities.

Teachers raised the problems of insecurity, kidnappings; the obligation for them to actively resume and assume their roles in their respective schools, see these schools clean, restructure and amend destroyed schools. In reply, Boma Christopher, the regional delegate for basic education, informed the teachers that all has been put in place to ensure the school resumption is met with success. He noted allocations have been provided for the refurnishing of schools burnt down and reconstruction on going. Mr Boma Christopher proposed that in paying of PTA levies by parents hygiene and sanitation should be considered. He said a good chunk of the subvention should go in addressing to crisis regions.

Boma further recommended the redeployment of more teachers to the North West region, and the provision of cars and motor bikes to ease circulation especially in deserted divisions where foot paths to educational establishments now remain a nightmare.

For his part, the permanent secretary at the NW governor’s office, Harry Lanyuy, urged the teachers to be nation builders and portray patriotic spirit towards their fatherland. While sharing John Masons quote "when things go wrong do we go with them?" the sympathetic but motivational administrator insisted they must avoid radicalisation in face of challenges but employ GOD'S wisdom and guidance in the execution of their daunting role. He said as plentiful as the worried teachers’ petitions are he shall forward their worries to the hierarchy whom he assured shall provide solutions. He insisted they must be the mouth piece of the state whose creation of the DDR center is aimed at reinserting ex-fighters of Boko Haram and Ambazonian fighters who took up arms against the state.

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Basic Education Sector Conference brainstorms on hitch-free 2019-2020 academic year for NW.