By IKOME CHRISTIE-NOELLA EPOSI
Under the theme, ‘Young Teachers: The future of the profession’, teachers all over the world on October 5, 2019, celebrated the 25th edition of the World Teachers day. In Buea, South West region of Cameroon, teachers were encouraged to shun fear and be courageous in the practice of their noble profession.
The day comes at a critical point in Cameroon’s history with the country facing upheavals in the Anglophone Regions. The over three-year crisis has seen teachers beaten, maimed, kidnapped, and others killed simply for practicing their profession.
The Regional Delegate of Secondary Education, Dr. Hannah Mbua Etonde, during the ceremony urged the teachers to shun fears and be courageous, considerate, and daring, knowing that if they stay away from classes, they are killing generations. “Let us take measures that will see teachers work in a calm atmosphere. At this point in time, teachers need to be credible and courageous while adapting to the changes to the profession, taking into consideration technological advancement.”
She furthered that “There is a good number of challenges that the teachers are going through in the South West Region. No matter the challenges, let us remain teachers…Teachers should shun the unwilling attitude to teach students.”
The upheavals have equally had a devastating effect on educational establishments in the Anglophone regions. Many schools have been destroyed as the teachers have been chased away by separatist fighters. Speaking on this issue, the Regional Delegate called on the teachers and proprietors of such establishments or those that are not functional to apply for redeployment, so they could be posted to areas that are operational.
To Esunge Ndive, President of the Buea Area Teachers’ Association, BATA, “The very unfriendly environment where we are working today, due to the sociopolitical upheavals plaguing the Anglophone regions where teachers are kidnapped or killed is evocative. It is an environment where teachers are afraid to go to work due to fear of the unknown.”
He went further to outline some issues that are plaguing the teaching profession such as the non-award of academic honours and medals to the teachers of the Basic Education sector, very low salaries, especially for teachers in the private sector which cannot even pay their house rents, non-registration of teachers of the private sector for pension schemes, and no signing of labour contracts for teachers in the private sector with their employees — this leaving them at the mercy of such employers.
The Secretary General at the South West governor’s office appreciated the teachers for having turned out to celebrate the day despite various threats at their safety. He went on to call on teachers to be the ambassadors of their generation, to preach by example and to serve as a model for the youths.
Another issue that was greatly frowned upon was the slackness new teachers have about their profession. According to officials, many present day teachers are only in search of the matricule number and not having the teacher spirit.