There have been diverse reactions from teachers of secondary schools in Cameroon in general and those in major towns and cities in particular following a decision from the ministry of secondary education banning holiday classes this year.
According to Mbah Godfrey, a private secondary school teacher in Douala, the decision has blocked his source of income. ” As a private teacher, my school pays my salary from September to July. During holiday, I manage with the little income from holiday classes. Sometimes we make this compulsory for some students who did not really perform well during exam for them to improve. Banning the classes now means it will be hard on me financially “
To other teachers, the decision of minister Pauline Nalova Lyonga has no logical backing if the academic interest of students is taken into consideration.
Tchenteh Vitalis; a Biology teacher offering his services to three private secondary schools in Bonaberi Douala says ” For me it will be dangerous allowing students that are not in examination classes to stay at home for seven months without doing anything. Government stopped school on the 18th of March to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Should the students wait until the 5th of October to return to school? ” He questioned in total disappointment .
To teachers that are for holiday classes, pedagogy demands that students should keep refreshing their memories not to finally lost track in education.
Despite this, some teachers think the decision of the minister holds in high esteem the health of students and should be respected.
” Organisers of holiday classes might not take seriously the respect of COVID 19 barrier measures as stipulated by the government and World Health Organisation . This might be detrimental to the state.” A government teacher has stated.
According to the government of Cameroon, schools will resume on the 5th of October 2020. A time believed to be convenient and when the spread of coronavirus would have been contained by health workers.
Mimi Mefo Info.