A Cameroonian civil society activist, Ndifor Richard, has slammed the Government for harassing and maltreating teachers leaving the country to seek better opportunities abroad.
Ndifor, also a history teacher, said in an opinion write-up termed, “The Unjust Treatment of Teachers at Cameroonian Airports,” that teachers, like other professionals, have the right to travel freely.
His reaction came following recent reports of security officers at airports harassing teachers they suspected of wanting to seek greener pastures abroad.
Late January this year, a Senior Police Commissioner at the Douala International Airport issued a communiqué in which he cautioned his subordinates against receiving money and allowing teachers, medical doctors, and other civil servants to leave the country without permission.
Over the years, the Cameroonian government has been fighting against ghost workers, mostly teachers who are receiving salaries from the state payroll but have abandoned their jobs and traveled abroad.
However, the government seems to have developed a new strategy by preventing government teachers at airports from leaving the country.
Ndifor Richard, a cabinet member of the Social Democratic Front Party, considers the move a violation of teachers’ rights, which has resulted in teachers bribing airport security officials with huge sums of money before they can travel like any other person.
“This mistreatment is not only unjust but also a gross violation of the rights of teachers,” said the historian.
“Teachers, like any other professionals, have the right to travel freely, whether it is for international conferences, medical attention, or to visit their families,” Ndifor added.
He said the government cannot and should not hinder their freedom to seek greener pastures.
“Instead of resorting to such restrictive measures, the government should focus on understanding the reasons behind the increasing number of teachers leaving the country and take steps to address the root causes,” Ndifor stressed.
He believes that teachers are leaving the country for better opportunities because the government has not put in place good working conditions for them.
Rather than stopping them, Ndifor said the government should be actively working to create an environment that encourages them to stay in the country.
“This entails addressing the issues that are driving teachers away, such as low salaries, poor working conditions, and limited career advancement opportunities. By investing in education and prioritizing the welfare of teachers, the government can foster an atmosphere that retains and attracts qualified educators,” he said.
Reports of people abandoning duties and traveling abroad for better opportunities are common in Cameroon.
Studies have shown that most young people want to leave the country because of poverty, corruption, conflicts, and a lack of better opportunities, among others.
