By DOH JAMES SONKEY
Government has reassured public opinion that special measures have been taken to ensure safe school resumption today June 1, 2020. The reassurance first given by the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, as he chaired a Cabinet meeting last May 28, 2020 at the Star Building in Yaounde, was re-echoed last May 29, 2020 at the Ministry of Communication, during a press conference jointly granted by Government Spokesperson, Minister Rene Emmanuel Sadi of Communication, Minister of State for Higher Education and Chancellor of Academic Or-ders, Prof. Jacques Fame Ndongo, Basic Education Minister, Prof. Laurent Serge Etoundi Ngoa and Secondary Education Minister, Prof. Nalova Lyonga.
In his preliminary statement, Minister Sadi Rene said measures have been taken to tackle any even-tuality in school milieus nationwide.
On preparations in the higher education sector, Minister of State, Prof. Jacques Fame Ndongo said after he chaired a video conference with all the stakeholders recently, all necessary steps have been taken to keep COVID-19 out of campuses.
He rejoiced that thanks to President Biya’s laptop gifts to the university community, students didn’t miss out on classes as studies continued online due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Minister of State said instructions have been sent out to the various universities in Cameroon to make sure that each lecture hall should not host more than 50 students.
On his part, Basic Education Minister, Prof. Laurent Serge Etoundi Ngoa while reassuring parents that pupils will be in safe hands in schools nationwide, called on them to play their role of making their children get use to the various barrier measures against COVID-19 so that while at school, they will not violate them for their safety and that of their families.
He said school administrations will provide facemasks to pupils whose parents will fail to equip them with.
On her part, Secondary Education Minister, Prof. Nalova Lyonga while saluting President Paul Biya’s decision to reopen schools at this time, stated that: “It is nice to live in a country where there is hope.”
She frowned that “It is wrong for people to look at schools as a place where one can contract COVID-19.”
The Secondary Education Minister went on to say: “For once, let us be ready to accompany the government. Our schools shall be COVID-19 free because we want it to be so. Parents Teachers Associations are doing wonders to make sure students are safe in schools during this classes’ re-sumption. Parents and teachers ought to be confident with all the measures collectively taken by the government and education stakeholders. Because we want to minimise physical contact, there will be no canteens in schools. We are in red alert, not wanting any virus from outside to come and con-taminate schools or any virus from schools to go out and contaminate the society.”