Mora: 1,700 pupils still sit on floors to learn
Amtchali Inclusive Primary School in Mora, Mayo Sava Division of the Far North region has recorded an increase in the number of pupils registered this year – 1,700 – a record for the institution.
“I am very delighted to have this number. Never have we recorded half of it in the past years. It is impressive, at least education is being considered important,” the head teacher, Marie Therese Tchiyang disclosed.
Unfortunately, the school does not have sufficient benches and classrooms to accommodate the pupils. They are squeezed in the few available classrooms and taught under difficult conditions.
“It’s true there are not sufficient benches and the pupils learn while sitting on the floor. This is even better as compared to the previous years when the children used to attend classes while sitting on the ground, trees and stones,” the head teacher further narrated.
A teacher, Fadi Mahamat who we found teaching 340 pupils in a classroom with half of the number sitting on the floor shares her experience: “it is a hectic task. Imagine teaching 340 pupils and you have to make sure they are quiet and focused. Some are dumb others deaf. We keep thriving to mould them to be future leaders.”
Most of these children are said to have been displaced by persistent Boko Haram hostilities. The staff are now begging for assistance from government authorities as the existing classrooms were built thanks to the efforts of community leaders and the multinational joint task force stationed in Mora.
