By Ikome Christie-noella Eposi in Buea
Despite the series of back-to-school campaigns put in place to ensure the effective resumption of schools in the South west region, it should be noted that schools in the region remained desolate at the start of the 2018/2019 academic year. The low turnout of pupils and students is as a result of the ongoing crisis in the region.
As was the situation before the crisis, the first day of school resumption used to be very active, busy streets with students going to school unlike the recent atmosphere on September 3 2018 which was void of back-to-school ambiance.
In a bid to ascertain how effective the new school year has taken off in the region, Governor Bernard Okalia Bilai and the new Regional Delegate of Secondary Education, Dr. Hannah Mbua Etonde, DO for Buea Kouam Wokam Paul last Tuesday September 4, 2018 made a stop at some 5 educational institutions in Buea: 4 secondary and one primary school.
From Government High School, GHS Buea, PCSS, BGS Molyko, GTHS and Ecole Publique Francophone, the Governor and his entourage met classrooms barely full with students taking part in various subjects of the day. In some schools some students could be spotted in assorted wears, something which is frowned upon by educational authorities on a normal school year.
The case was however different in other institutions as they had a significant number of students present during the first week of classes, although the number is low compared to their normal intake. GHS Buea, BGS Molyko and GTHS all welcomed a host of students for the first week of the new school year. Empty benches were still being seen in some of these institutions as parents are still waiting for the coming week or so before sending their children to school.
Talking to the press after his visit, Governor Okalia Bilai indicated that schools have effectively begun in the SWR after touring the various establishments. He said “during our visit we met students in the classrooms and teachers teaching these students. We can say that the resumption of classes in Buea is effective,” he said.
The governor continued that “I just want to sensitize the rest of the parents and students to come back to school, particularly we want to encourage the parents to accompany their primary school children to schools.”
Again, governor Okalia stated “Last year many parents were celebrating good results and for them to celebrate good results they should know that the beginning of the school year begins now and for those who are not there, it will be difficult for them to catch up,” Governor Okalia Bilai added.
According to Robert Ndive, Vice principal of BGS Molyko, schools did not start effectively on Monday because of the supposedly “ghost town” and students could not trek to school but the administration was present. “On Tuesday despite the rain, there were more than 200 students on campus which is a good sign. Parents are still skeptical of sending their children to school because of the present situation in the region.”
He however believes that the students will go to their various quarters and inform their fellow classmates about the resumption of school which will in the days ahead lead to more students going to schools. To a form one student of BGS Molyko, he was very excited to be returning to school after receiving some guidance from his parent. He however called on his fellow classmates and friends to go to school “if their parents agree to it”. Another student still from the same institution said she was encouraged by her parents to go to school and on arriving met just five students in her class. Like the other student, she went on to encourage other students not to be scared and resume their classes.
Educational stakeholders in the South West region attested the readiness of teachers to be present in school for the new school year. The assurances from the stakeholders were made recently in Buea in dual premise; at the conference room of the South west governor’s office and during an open-air life studio back-to-school session organized by CRTV Buea.