South West educationists laud reopening of several schools during 2023-2024 academic year

The secondary education family in the South West Region of Cameroon has expressed immense satisfaction with the success rate of school activities during the 2023–2024 academic year, which is drawing to a close.

This excitement was palpable during an evaluation meeting held in Buea on Thursday, June 20.

According to officials of the Southwest Regional Delegation of Secondary Schools, an increasing number of schools that had been rendered dysfunctional by the ongoing Anglophone Crisis were able to resume operations.

This positive development was observed across the six divisions of the region, which have been experiencing armed conflict since 2017.

During the meeting, which was attended by principals from various divisions, Henry Enow Abani, the Sub Director of General Affairs at the South West Regional Delegation of Secondary Education, highlighted the improvements.

“As far as the last academic year is concerned, we noticed that more of our schools that were not functioning have opened,” he stated.

He also noted a significant increase in school enrollments and registrations for official exams.

“Overall, the academic year, which will close very soon, is successful in the South West Region,” Abani concluded.

When asked about the strategies that led to this success, Abani explained that the digitalization of lessons played a crucial role.

In areas lacking power connections or Internet access, radios were supplied to many rural schools.

These radios, capable of self-charging, were accompanied by USB keys containing all the necessary lessons. This innovative approach ensured that education continued uninterrupted, even in the most challenging circumstances.

The Anglophone Crisis, which began in 2016, saw lawyers and teachers initiating strikes that eventually escalated into a full-blown conflict, significantly disrupting the educational landscape.

Schools were frequently targeted by both government soldiers and separatist fighters, leading to numerous closures.

The violence resulted in the tragic loss of students and teachers, while many others were kidnapped or tortured.

Despite these challenges, the increasing number of schools now reopening their doors marks a hopeful turning point. It is anticipated that this trend will continue, bringing a sense of normalcy and functionality back to the educational sector in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon.

©Mimi Mefo Info