One week to school resumption: Anglophone clergy crusading effective schooling in NW, SW.

The preachers have in an online campaign dubbed: “Stronger & Better Together-Back to School Message from Religious Leaders”, challenged parents to defy fear and send their children to school.

While engaging government to ensure the safety of the learners as they return to the classrooms on Monday September 4, the clergymen stated that depriving children access to education is senseless.

The Men of God in their outings, are categorical that denying children access to education is tantamount to destroying the future of a nation.

Leave no child behind

Speaking via the recorded campaign messages which have been making the rounds on social media platforms, the Archbishop of the Bamenda Metropolitan Archdiocese, His Grace Andrew Nkea was blunt that “All the children must go back to school”. 

The outspoken and exceedingly knowledgeable preacher said he has been clamouring for learners to return to the classrooms in all parts of the restive Anglophone regions.

“I have said this in season and out of season. Accepted or unaccepted. Persecuted or praised, children must go to school” he said stating that “School is the only way to guarantee the future of our kids. School is the only way to guarantee the future of our nation. School is the only way to guarantee the goodness and the wellbeing of families. So school has to go on”.

“I encourage all parents to do everything possible, leave no child behind. This is my message. Leave no child behind come September 2023,” the Chief Shepherd of the Bamenda Archdiocese concluded.

Taking the cue, the Executive President of the Cameroon Baptist Convention, CBC, Rev Dr Charlemagne Nditemeh, chided individuals who have been preventing learners from studying in the conflict regions of the North West and South West regions.

The fine and celebrated preacher, however said there is need for government to ensure an enabling environment for learners to study hitch-free in the Anglophone regions.

“I have a message for three categories of people. The first is to the government…the government should prepare very well for the school reopening and on that note, there should be some sensitivity between the text and context…sometimes, there is a context in which the text doesn’t fit in. children need to go to school. They need to study in a peaceful and enabling environment” he noted.

He then insisted that “No matter what we have as opinion, no matter what we have as differences or grievances, there is a very important need that in every context, we should create an enabling environment where children can go to school peacefully”.

For his part, the Bishop of the Kumbo Diocese, His Lordship George Nkuo, pleaded with individuals blocking learners from studying to refrain from such barbaric actions.

He said “…we are very concerned and interested to see that many more opportunities are given to our children to go back to school. Please, let our children go back to school. Don’t block them from going to school”. 

Enter PCC Moderator

In his outing, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, PCC, Rev. Fonki Samuel underscored the importance of education, describing it as the foundation of every society.

While pushing for effective schooling in the two English-speaking regions, Rev. Fonki Samuel reminded stakeholders that “Another opportunity to change the mindset of children into responsible citizens is here. I call on all parents to invest in our children for it is the best investment in life”.

He was categorical that “no one has the right to deprive our children the right to education. It is our responsibility as parents and government to make sure their right to education is respected”.

He continued: “I want to use this opportunity to plead with the government of Cameroon to grant free education to our children at the basic level. This will improve the literacy rate in Cameroon, for our nation’s development. If any society needs real growth, education is usually the magic. I pray that this academic year 2023/2024 will be a fruitful one for our children in this nation”.

Joining the fray, the Bishop of the Diocese of Buea, His Lorship Michael Bibi, stated that one of the missions that the church has accomplished in the world and in the society is the education of children. 

The soft-spoken and loveable preacher said as Men of God: “We don’t only preach the gospel…we encourage all our children to go to school”.

He added: “As we prepare to begin another academic year, I will like to tell all our parents, all our brothers and sisters that education is important for each and every one of us and those of us who go to school, we are laying a future for ourselves”.

He stated: “If we deprive ourselves of education, it is not going to be of any benefit to us and the society but if we give opportunities for our children to be educated, that will go a long way to enable them to become responsible citizens in our nation”.

“It is with this in mind that I want to encourage all of you to facilitate in giving a conducive environment for the academic year. I pray that God our loving Father will accompany us within the course of this academic year as we undertake our studies,” Bishop Bibi concluded.