Back to school: Eyes on Muyuka, Akwaya councils to drive campaign

By Nchendzengang Tatah

Weeks to the start of the 2025/2026 academic year in September, observers in the South West are keen on Municipalities which were poorly graded for accompanying the process last year. The Office of the Public Independent Conciliator (OPIC) of the South West, in a 2024 report published on April 1, 2025, had named several Councils which it noted had not made significant efforts for effective back-to-school. These councils included Muyuka and Akwaya.
Muyuka, which is the most crisis-affected area in the Fako Division, was revealed in the report to have a portion of the population not comfortable with the efforts of the Council to provide basic school needs despite its achievements in other areas.

Outstanding didactic needs

Comments from education stakeholders in Muyuka corroborate the OPIC claims. Mr Awuzu Celestine Uche, class six teacher at the Catholic Primary School, Malende, said they needed help from other stakeholders in the education chain to improve their outcome. The availability of didactic materials remained a major challenge to most schools, which had been accepted by armed separatists to operate. The proprietor of one such, Seat of Wisdom Community School, Chombe Jasko, explained that they needed support to educate the children, most of whom could not afford fees. He disclosed that they faced challenges running the schools as they needed significant resources for teachers to be paid, which were unavailable.

Kenchi needs school

In Akwaya of the Manyu Division, the report had rather highlighted the need for a school as demanded by the population. It stated: “The people of Kenchi village also expressed sentiments of discontent because the Council failed to address their educational needs; the request of a primary school in their community.” OPIC argued that the need was significant because education was essential in fostering development.

Meanwhile, for Mundemba in the Ndian division, OPIC saluted its efforts towards mobilising for an effective back-to-school. The 2025/2026 school year projects a unique atmosphere. One which will feature presidential elections in October 2025. To be accompanied by regional elections in December and then Municipal and Legislative elections in the first quarter of 2026. While these may serve as peculiar events posing academic distraction and irregular budget heads, Councils are expected to rise to the occasion and prioritise the next generation through allocating adequate resources to enable their education.