SW Governor challenges stakeholders to join forces for effective school resumption.

Speaking at a preparatory meeting in Buea, the senior civil administrator was blunt that: “We cannot afford to allow others to disturb the education of our children. Education involves every elected official from senators, parliamentarians, members of the Regional Assembly, and councillors… because it is too important to be left in the hands of education administrators alone”.

Governor Bernard Okalia Bilaï was speaking during a crucial preparatory meeting held Wednesday September 4. 

The meeting brought together key stakeholders from the education sector, the Senior Divisional Officers from Fako, Meme, and Lebialem, the South West Attorney General, the President of the South West Regional Assembly, the top brass of the defence and security forces, amongst others, to strategise on a hitch-free upcoming school year.

The preparatory meeting served as an opportunity for the stakeholders to address pertinent issues like the security and safety of teachers and learners, absenteeism of teachers, and infrastructure readiness amongst others.

Addressing stakeholders during the meeting, Governor Bilaï underscored the importance of creating a conducive learning environment for learners and teachers despite the challenges.

“…ensuring that our schools are ready to welcome students safely and efficiently is our top priority. The effective functioning of our schools and colleges in which our children are allowed to acquire useful knowledge and skills necessary to prepare a bright future for themselves and begin equipping themselves for their role as the leaders of tomorrow,” he stated.

Given the importance of education, the Governor reiterated the importance of such a meeting as a platform to identify potential hurdles and to unify efforts to overcome them. 

He called on the elected local officials and traditional rulers to lead the population in denouncing school boycotts, irresponsible calls for lockdown and ghost towns and the prolonged killings and suffering of the population.

He also urged the population to join the administration and renew the commitment to ‘terrorise the terrorists’ by systematically denouncing them and denying them the possibility of hiding amongst us.

“To have peace for ourselves and our children, we must ‘terrorize the terrorists’ because we know most of them and where they live amongst us,” he continued.

On her part, the Regional Delegate of Basic Education, Elangwe Rose Bume, highlighted that her sector has 3,564 schools with just 1,847 operational and 746 not operational. 

In the secondary education sector, there are 478 secondary schools, 304 operational and 139 not operational.

Given that some schools are not operational, the Governor instructed the delegates to work in collaboration with the Senior Divisional Officers and their Divisional Officers to ensure that each subdivision has at least two functional schools to permit pupils and students to get the basic key to the education needed for their future success. 

Speaking to the press, Governor Bilai reiterated President Biya’s call for the school to be left for children and politics for politicians. 

“…we must not join our children in a political fight to sacrifice the future of their country and the country. The population has suffered enough and now they understand the importance of education. The population should systematically denounce the separatists publicly and not remain afraid,” he advised.

At the close of the meeting, stakeholders took the commitment to respect the official re-opening date as well as keep schools and college campuses clean.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3224 of Monday September 9, 2024