Parents in Cameroon are concerned about a number of demands made by school officials as preparations for the start of the 2023–2024 academic year pick up momentum.
Some parents who contacted MMI have complained about the excessive costs and massive book lists imposed by educational institutions.
The pressures are great for struggling parents, according to a parent whose child attends Agnes Memorial Nursery and Primary School in Molyko, Buea South West Region of the country.
Our source, whose daughter has enrolled at the school, is not happy. “It is terrible to say this, but in all honesty, I am not satisfied with the fundamental educational sector of Cameroon,” he said, adding that despite the fact that the school just came into existence, exorbitant fees are nevertheless charged.
“My child attended One Agnes Memorial Nursery and Primary School, which is located behind the Old Molyko Police Station. That school is only two years old, and my child and others were the first pupils in the nursery section,” he said, adding, “For the first year of nursery one, I paid the sum of 105,000 francs (174.30 USD) for tuition and registration, and in the second year, I paid 100,000 francs for tuition excluding books and other expenses,” he said, insisting that his identity should be kept a secret.
He added that “For this academic year, my child will begin first grade, and behold, the tuition for a student who began in the same school is 105,000 FRS.”
No Justification
He said that school officials are unable to explain the tuition rise.
“The worst part is that the headmistress is unable to explain why the tuition is at that level. She only stated that it was because of the rise in commodity costs. What on earth does that have to do with tuition, for crying out loud?” he lamented.
On the other hand, the quantity of books required of the children is excessive for beginners to read.
Parents told MMI that it is inadmissible, that class one pupils are required to have 17 exercise books and eight textbooks.
“Why so many books and textbooks for kids? How would a child below three in class one understand all these subjects?” our source questioned.
“The booklist for a class one pupil (first year) is something different. How can a class one youngster be bringing 17 volumes to school? What are they teaching these youngsters, for goodness sake?”
“I think at this juncture, homeschooling will be the best option,” he added.
Booklist for class one pupils in Cameroon
Agnes Memorial Nursery and Primary School Responds
Agnes Memorial Nursery and Primary School in Molyko responded to our request for comments and took time to explain what the school’s requirements are.
An instructor at the institution, Madam Ndi, told MMI over the phone that the exercise books and textbooks needed are in line with the primary school curriculum in Cameroon.
It should be remembered that a class one pupil is required to have eight textbooks and seventeen exercise booklets.
The curriculum, she explained, “typically calls for 10 topics to be offered. However, there are certain topics that are both vast and fragmented. One textbook cannot contain all of the subjects, so there is a need to split. Science and technology classes are separated into sections for health education, mental science, engineering, and technology, in addition to the required topics like English, math, and French,” noted Madame Ndi.
Regarding the eight textbooks, she remarked, “There are eight textbooks listed but some are optional. You have compulsory ones like English, mathematics, and word building that are non-negotiable. Actually, the textbooks are to enable parents to guide their children home so that when they come to class, they should have an idea.”
She concluded that they have taken time to tell parents that it was up to them to stick to “only three compulsory textbooks, or they get the rest and assist the children at home.”
Many complaints have been raised against most private educational establishments for milking sponsors with excessive demands and fee increments. Some teachers have also complained of receiving little or no pay from private school proprietors despite charging exorbitant school fees.
EDUCARE Bilingual Nursery and Primary School Bamenda received harsh criticism in January of this year for putting a list of requirements on sponsors in the name of what they referred to as “teachers appreciation week.”
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