Anglophone Bishops condemn scary rise in deviant behaviour, exam malpractices.

Their outing is contained in a back-to-school message, issued at the end of the 80th Ordinary Meeting of the Bamenda Provincial Episcopal Conference, BAPEC, held in Bamenda on Friday, August 21, 2026. 

In the release, signed by the President of BAPEC who doubles as the Archbishop of Bamenda, His Grace Andrew Fuanya Nkea, the prelates called on the State to engage a holistic approach to protecting the moral and religious education of the youth, by “removing public impediments that stand on their way”. 

The Bishops reiterated the fundamental right to education, insisting that anyone who willingly deprives children of their right to education is sinning grievously.

Worsening exam malpractices, drug abuse 

The Bishops regretted that issues of examination malpractice have become common, often with the complicity of the staff. 

“All forms of examination malpractice are sinful,” the Bishops warned, noting that such breaks the Eighth Commandment and constitute an offence against truth, justice, honesty and integrity. 

They also Bishops regretted that in Higher institutions of learning like in Secondary Schools, the evil of drug abuse comes with consequences as violence, increasing failure rates, abandonment of school and irreparable damage to mental and physical health.

“Clandestine production of and trafficking in drugs are scandalous practices. They constitute direct co-operation in evil, since they encourage people to practices gravely contrary to the moral law,” they declared. 

Lament spiral of violence

The Men of God also lamented recurrence of acts of physical and psychological violence like bullying, fighting, weapons use, gang action and sexual assault. 

They said such acts disrupt learning and impede balanced character development, endanger peaceful coexistence and working together in harmony and peace. 

The moral voices said responsibility towards the construction of the society requires all stakeholders to feel personally concerned, and make concerted efforts to fight against the evils. 

Call to students, parents, teachers, gov’t 

The Bishops also urged students to eschew behaviours, practices and attitudes that are likely to compromise their physical and mental health and the attainment of the purpose of education. 

They also underscored the role of parents in education as those who shape character, set values, and create a stable environment for learning. 

“The family is meant to be the primary school of social virtues such as honesty and integrity which are necessary for life in society,” they said, urging parents to be more conscious of their role in the life and progress of children.

The Bishops urged teachers to exemplary, insisting that they remain indispensable in the fight against examination malpractice, drug abuse, and violence among students.

“Our hearts are heavily saddened by accounts of teachers who become "co-operators in evil" by driving the practices of corruption, and inappropriate and indecent behaviours in schools,” they stated, while appealing on teachers to live up to their vocation as mentors and guardians. 

The prelates saluted the active involvement of communities in the fight against drug-abuse, noting that such must be done, with respect for human rights and dignity for perpetrators and promoters to be held accountable for their acts.

The Bishops urged government to combat the aforementioned evils by providing adequate and deterrent sanctions in respect of laws. 

They also drummed the need for affordable treatment, mental healthcare, and the use of rehabilitation centres for counselling and recovery of drug addicts. 

Public campaigns, sensitisation of youth about the health risk of drug abuse, they insisted, is also of great help. 

The prelates said the future of humanity and of the country depends on the emergence of a youth who are carefully prepared, morally and academically, to act responsibly, and be able to live and work with others in harmony and peace.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3890 of Wednesday August 26, 2026