By Tata Mbunwe
Police officers in Yaounde conducted a search operation on Monday morning, uncovering a range of concerning items in the bags of students in some prominent government secondary schools.
The operation, carried out at the invitation of school principals, targeted campuses known for disciplinary problems and drug use.
Led by the Police unit in charge of securing secondary schools and university campuses, the operation uncovered alarming discoveries.
Searches conducted in different classrooms identified pupils aged 12 to 18 in possession of weapons such as daggers, condoms, phones, jewelry, spare clothes, and other suspicious items.
According to Cameroon Tribune, the police caught a group of first and final year secondary school students consuming rice flavored with Indian hemp.
The operation is part of a broader school cleansing campaign initiated by the Ministry of Secondary Education (MINESEC) to combat drug consumption and decadence in schools.
Speaking to CRTV, some teachers expressed concerns about the root causes of the decadent behavior observed in schools today.
They attributed the problem to poor moral foundations and suggested that some parents encourage indiscipline among their children by supporting them when caught engaging in inappropriate behavior at school.
Tambe Agbor, Principal of Government Bilingual High School Essos, Yaounde, elaborated on the school’s efforts to address the issue of decadence.
He stated that the school is actively engaged in sensitizing students on the importance of discipline and warning them about the damaging effects of drugs.
“Sessions of disciplinary councils are convened. As the need may arise, parents are obliged to take part, as the education of the child is a shared responsibility of the State, teachers, parents, and the entire education community at large. Sanctions taken during such sessions are communicated to the parents for implementation,” Mr. Tambe said.
Moral decadence, characterized by drug consumption and abuse, alcohol, violence, indecent dressing, and prostitution, among other ills, has deeply affected Cameroonian youths.
This issue has been a topic of discussion at the state level, with President Paul Biya urging youths to desist from these behaviors in his Youth Day speech on February 10.
“Today, we are all witnesses of the gradual dissolution of these values in our society and, unfortunately, among the youths as well,” said President Biya three months ago.
“Moral decay, irresponsible and deviant behaviour, violence, indiscipline, alcohol and drug abuse and intolerance are on the rise in our society. Schools are no exception,” he noted.
The discoveries made during the search operation highlight the urgent need for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to address issues of indiscipline and drug use in schools.
