By Doh James Sonkey
The Minister of Secondary Education, Prof Nalova Lyonga has urged teachers to use philosophy to impart in learners the core values of rationality and devotion in order to guard them against the illusion of well-being.
The Minister’s special message was delivered last November 21, 2024 at the Edea ceremonial ground by the Inspector General of Education and personal representative of the Minister of Secondary Education at the occasion, Jean-Paul Marcellin Mebada, during the celebration of the 23rd edition of World Philosophy and Human well-being Day under the theme “Philosophy and Well-being.”
The Minister’s envoy was accompanied during the occasion by the Senior Divisional Officer of the Sanaga-Maritime Division, Cyrille Yvan Abondo and surrounded by other officials of the MINESEC central administration, as well as the Regional Delegate for Secondary Education for Littoral, Madame Eboa Thamar. The gracious presence of the Bishop of Edea Diocese, His Lordship Monsignor Jean-Bosco Ntep added up to the prestige of the ceremony.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Secondary Education, the Inspector General of Education noted the decisive role played by Philosophy in building a civilization of collective well-being. He used this opportunity to specify that well-being is not to be confused with the accumulation of material goods, or falling prey to the lure of easy money.
Therefore, he hailed philosophy teachers who nurture knowledge, know-how and interpersonal skills in student, most of whom are emotionally vulnerable young people.
He also reassured the teachers of Ministry’s resolute commitment to offer them, as far as possible, the appropriate working conditions to make Philosophy the flame of human well-being.
Prizes worth FCFA 100,000 and FCFA 50,000 were awarded by Prof Nalova Lyonga to 20 students and 17 trainers as national winners of the national competition for the best philosophy essay and the best philosophy corpus, organised last October 16, 2024 in prelude to the celebration.
4 students, 2 teachers, 1 Regional Pedagogic Inspector and the Regional Coordinating Inspector of Philosophy from the Littoral Region were honoured with the ministerial prize for the quality of their contributions to deepening the learning and understanding of Philosophy.