North West
regional delegates for Basic and Secondary education have indicted some lay
private and confessional schools in the region for violating ministerial
directives on the official closing dates by closing their doors for the
2017/2018 academic before time.
According to
a join press released signed by Apah Johnson NW delegate for Secondary
Education and his counterpart Wilfred Wambeng of Basic Education made public
yesterday, the concerned schools took the decision without consulting competent
authorities.
”It has been
brought to our notice that some Education Agencies have close their doors for
the 2017/2018 academic year or are planning to close before the official dates
without consultations with Education and Administrative Authorities of the
region.” The release state
Citing the
relevant ministerial provisions, the delegates add “You are by this Press
Release reminded that according to Ministerial Order No. 02/17/MINEDUB/MINESEC
of 7th July 2017 to define the calendar of activities for the
2017/2018 school year in the Republic of Cameroon, Article 32 stipulates that
pupils and students who are not involved in official examinations shall go on
holiday on Friday 8th June 2018 at noon.”
Consequently
the release concludes “we remind Education Agencies, both lay private and
confessional to adhere to these ministerial prescriptions.”
It should be
recalled that the unceremonious closure of schools in the NW region started after
the abduction of the Principal of St Bede’s College Ashing Kom Rev Fr William
Neba before his very own students in the early hours of Monday April 30 during
morning Mass.
Unconfirmed
sources say the condition given by the abductors prior to his release Wednesday
May 2 was that the Roman Catholic Church in the Archdiocese off Bamenda must
close down all its schools in the region particularly St Bedes. Rev Fr Tata
Mbuy Director of Communications in the Archdiocese of Bamenda declined to make
any comment on the conditions for Rev Fr Neba’s release to The Guardian Post.
Though the
authenticity of this information remains unclear, many of the mission schools
in the Region have been sending their children home.
Last week
many were made to write their promotion examinations with the promise that they
will come back some time later for their report cards.
Those of
examination classes have also been sent home with many not knowing what happens
next while some are saying that they were told to go home and be preparing
because they will be called at any time.
There have
been repeated calls for school boycott in the NW/SW regions for the last two
years by unknown persons. This has been accompanied by the burning of school
buildings, attack on school officials and students etc. No one takes
responsibility for these actions but it can however not be unconnected with the
unrest that has characterised the NW in the last two years.