A heated exchange unfolded this Thursday, December 14, 2023, at a primary and nursery school in Douala, Cameroon, as a nursery school teacher and a parent found themselves at odds over a contribution for a Christmas gift for the children.
The teacher, known as Mme Ngo Lauraine, reportedly requested 15,000 CFA francs from each parent to contribute to a collective Christmas gift for the nursery class children. However, one parent, identified as Mme. Leila, objected to the amount, arguing it was too high, and expressed a preference to personally purchase a Christmas gift for her child.
“I understand the intention behind the collective gift,” Mme. Leila conveyed to the teacher. “But 15,000 francs is a substantial amount for some of us parents. I would rather use that money to get my child a gift that I know he will truly appreciate.”
Mme. Ngo, in contrast, asserted that the collective gift was a longstanding tradition at the school and a means for all the children to celebrate together.
“The Christmas party is a special occasion for the children,” she explained. “It’s a time for them to come together, play games, and receive gifts. The collective gift ensures that every child gets something special, regardless of their family’s financial situation.”
The disagreement escalated, drawing other parents into the dispute. Some parents supported Mme. Leila, advocating for the right to choose their children’s gifts, while others sided with Mme. Ngo, emphasising the importance of school traditions and inclusivity.
To mediate the situation, the school headmaster was called in. After hearing both sides, the headmaster proposed a compromise, suggesting that parents could either contribute to the collective gift or provide their child with an individual gift of similar value.
“The most important thing is that every child feels included and celebrated at the Christmas party,” the headmaster stated. “We can find a way to make that happen while respecting the individual needs of each family.”
The end-of-year Christmas tree celebration in most schools in Cameroon, especially for nursery school children, has traditionally been a major event filled with fun activities before the Christmas holidays.
Contributions requested by some schools have often posed challenges, with amounts ranging as high as 50,000frs from parents, leading to the purchase of gifts that may not be appreciated by the children. While some parents have no issue with schools buying gifts for their children out of their own contributions, the disparity between the requested amount and the quality of the gift remains a concern.
As of this report, Mme. Leila remains adamant about not contributing anything for her child in that school and insists on buying her child’s gift herself.
