World education day: state of the sector in NW/SW

Cameroon today January 24, 2023 celebrates the 5th edition of the World Education day under the theme “investing in education, a priority”. 5 years since the start of the anglophone crisis characterized by the burning down of schools, the state of the sector has been deplorable with many parents wondering if their children will one day be able to go back to school with no fear whatsoever.

“Since 2017, 700,000 children in Cameroon’s two anglophone regions education have been disrupted by separatist insurgents and the military. Separatists leaders ceaselessly ordered the close of many schools in these two regions especially on Mondays which have till date been considered ghost town and deadly. Unfortunately, the ones that suffer most are the children and youths paying a high price of sacrificing their future,” a statement from the International Crisis Unit Group says.

Over 6,000 families have been displaced and about 500, 000 people denied access to government services in the Anglophone regions rendering most young cameroonians stranded in terms of education. Families have been forced to relocate, children have abandoned their former schools and friends and are left with no choice but to embrace strange educational systems in different areas, CNN reports.

“The targeting of schools have had a devastating effect on our girls as many have gotten pregnant, raped, selling their bodies for money and more. Women are different from men. Our boys can stay home for as long as possible and still get local jobs around but girls the more they idle around, the more vulnerable they become,” Elcee Manyi Tabot, a parent from Buea says.

“This year’s world education day is celebrated and this is 2023, we hear of peace everyday here and there but no dialogue. Our kids cannot freely wear uniforms to school or try Mondays as a normal school day. In fact in Bamenda sometimes our kids stay weeks at home without school. For how long? What then are we celebrating education day for?” Ako Brackson Tamfo a teacher in Bamenda narrates.

International partners who have tried getting the Cameroon government to resolve the crisis through dialogue have all failed so far.