By DANIELA NEBA NGUM
The Divisional Delegate for Secondary Education Meme, Aghim Abunaw Obase has disclosed that pressure on teachers that stems from the Anglophone crisis has gradually died down as the population of students kept increasing day after day.
Mr. Aghim Abunaw was speaking at the Kumba City Council grandstand on October 5th during celebrations marking the 24th edition of the International Day of the Teachers.
The ceremony that saw a huge turnout of teachers was presided at by the Senior Divisional Officer for Meme, Chamberlain Ntou’ou Ndong and was celebrated under the theme: “Teaching in freedom, empowering teachers”.
According to the delegate, at the wake of the Anglophone crisis that kept schools deserted, there was so much pressure and threats on teachers and school administrators from unidentified individuals who are against the resumption of schools.
The situation, he said, has died down as most parents have realized the need to send their children to school.
“The pressure on teachers has gone down since the population in schools is increasing day by day following the statistics of principals”, the Delegate noted.
He was corroborated by the Meme Divisional Delegate for Basic Education, Sabas Atem who noted that the academic year started timidly in the basic sector though it is gradually gaining grounds.
Talking about rural areas in the division, the Delegates said rural areas for sociological reasons have a different dynamics with the cosmopolitan and so with continuous sensitization, they hope schools will resume effectively there.
Delegate Abunaw further refuted rumours that teachers showed up for the celebrations in order to protect their salaries. He noted that the celebration is based on the recognition that societies places on the role teachers have been playing for ages.
He further frowned on teachers who abandoned their jobs for greener pastures abroad thereby leaving the students frustrated.
He however appealed to parents to send their children to school in order to secure a better future for them
“We are using the International Day of Teachers to appeal to parents of Meme Division to see the need to send their children to school. We think that every other thing maybe wrong but we shall not do the last one by killing the same children we think we are fighting for”, the delegate noted.
On his part Meme Senior Divisional Officer, Chamberlain Ntou’ou Ndong said the day is set aside for teachers to take stock and reflect on their activities and quality of services rendered.
The SDO further urged teachers in the division to fight against vices in the educational milieu such as indiscipline, laziness, absenteeism and bribery and corruption.
Mr. Ntou’ou Ndong noted that the celebration challenged the thoughts of many who thought that schools would not effective in the division.