By Tata Mbunwe
Teachers in Cameroon have been celebrated for the vital role they play in building the society, as they joined their colleagues across the world to celebrate World Teachers Day.
Stating that teachers are the builders of the future, the president of Cameroon Renaissance Movement party, Maurice Kamto, encouraged them to “remain models for your learners and benchmarks for society.”
“On this day dedicated to you, I would like to express my gratitude for the essential role you play in building our youth, and hence our beloved country, Cameroon. Every day, you shape future generations, who are called upon to exercise all professions, to occupy all positions in society, and to be the leaders of tomorrow,” Kamto wrote on his social media handles.
For 30 years now, October 5 has been celebrated yearly as Teachers Day across the globe. The day has been used to honour the sacrifice of teachers in shaping society and highlight the challenges facing the profession.
The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) themed this year’s commemoration, “The Valuing teacher voices: Towards a new social contract for education.”
Aside from celebrating the invaluable contributions of teachers to society, the theme, UNESCO said, highlights the need for governments to incorporate teachers’ perspectives into educational policy and decision-making processes.
Celebrations in Cameroon have been marked by parades by teachers in major towns and conferences with administrative authorities.
Hundreds of teachers gathered at the Yaounde conference center in the country’s capital to commemorate the event. It was chaired by Secondary Education Minister, Prof Nalova Lyonga.
Difficult Context
Amid the celebrations, teachers in Cameroon continue to endure several challenges that have made the job difficult.
Insecurity in the Far North and North West and South West Regions has seen several teachers killed, or brutalized during the past years.
Teachers, especially in the private sector, also work under deplorable conditions, with some of them receiving meagre salaries that do not amount to the country’s minimum wage.
The government sector is also not exempted, with reports of several teachers quitting the job to search for greener pastures abroad.
This has caused a government crackdown on ghost workers in civil service, particularly in the teaching sector, where hundreds of teachers have been dismissed.
Amid the difficulties, teachers have been encouraged to remain resilient and hopeful.
“Know that you are not alone in your struggle for the recognition and dignity you deserve. Together, we will build a Cameroon that values high-quality education and vocational training of all kinds, as well as its dedicated teachers, who deserve to be appreciated for their true worth,” Maurice Kamto said.
