Back to School 2020: Over 300 Teachers Enter Mbengwi

 Back to School 2020: Over 300 Teachers Enter Mbengwi

When insecurity became rampant resulting to kidnappings, threats and torture, most of these government teachers took to their heels out of Mbengwi for safety and other reasons in far off places like Bamenda, Bafoussam, Douala, Yaounde. For over three years now, they've been like an endangered specie struggling to survive. As at moment, the security situation of Mbengwi is neither as bad as before nor as many think.

With the coming of this new 2020/2021 academic year, these teachers were compelled to must answer present in Mbengwi or face sanctions. And so they rushed in from where they'd been, to assume duty. They were over 300 in number that rallied  on the campus of Government Bilingual High School (GBHS) Mbengwi on Tuesday October 6th 2020 for modalities on school resumption.

Hundreds of Government School Teachers Meeting on Campus of GBHS Mbengwi to strategize on School Resumption

Mondays have for over 3 years now been selected for the respect of ghost town operations imposed by those the government calls terrorists/secessionists. It is for this reason that while schools officially resumed nationwide on Monday the 5th, those in Mbengwi were expected to resume on Tuesday October 6th. Mbengwi Online toured some schools to ascertain resumption and or preparedness.

At Full Gospel Bilingual Nursery and Primary School, Back Mbon, we met some kids in assorted wears playing on campus. Pastor Toh Godlove is the school administrator. He told us "We are set for the academic year irrespective of the challenges. We believe God will see us through as he's always done. The environment has been cleared, benches and classrooms cleaned, the teachers are ready. We are calling on the parents who are still skeptical to make that decision now because for now, Mbengwi doesn't have a problem that should hinder schooling. Instead, the crisis here seem to be subsiding as God has been helping us."

School Children Playing Happily on the Campus of Full Gospel Bilingual Nursery and Primary school Mbengwi

At Palmers Bilingual Nursery and Primary School near the Mbengwi Council, didactic school materials were distributed to pupils today. Other schools mostly mission and lay private primary schools started classes today. Some already have an enrollment of over 30 in one class. For security reasons, some denied us access saying they've been threatened for announcing in church that they're doing admission, reason why they don't want the media to mention anything about them. 

Calling on all parents, pupils and students to jump on the back to school wagon, Pastor Toh Godlove said "This isn't time to be running again out of Mbengwi. Let us come back and build our institutions, our communities and let life return to Mbengwi. The separatist leaders have said where there's security, schools can go. I want to believe that there's security in Mbengwi and let the schools go. So, those of you who are on the way going out of Mbengwi or out of the region, I call on you to come back let's put our heads together and see how we can make the schools back here go smoothly."

Classroom Benches Awaiting Students in GBHS Mbengwi

The adminstration of Mbengwi accompanied by the municipal authorities and forces of law and order today toured several schools within Mbengwi central town for a temperature reading of resumption of classes. On the campus of GBHS Mbengwi, they were taken to some classes where the teaching and learning process had started already. They also had time to address the hundreds of teachers. 

Mayor Ndangsa Kennedy Akam encouraged them to brave fear and regain their classrooms and also send their own children to school. To set the example, the mayor said he's brought back his children from Bafoussam to Mbengwi and all were in school today. He also assured them that the the council is at their disposal to make use of in case they need to clear their school yard or require teaching materials. 

The Administration, MP & Mayor Touring Some Schools in Mbengwi

The Member of Parliament for Momo East, Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia on her part took a commitment with the teachers that Momo Division especially Mbengwi won't be last again in school enrollment this year when statistics shall be published. She reiterated the promise she made months ago to register the first five students and pupils in all the schools in her constituency and that to set the pace, the payment was already being effected in the course of the tour. 

Ending the speeches session, Fouda Etaba Nicaise, Senior Divisional Officer, Momo insisted that the teachers must regain their classrooms immediately considering that it's their availability that'll attract the students to school. "Your day passed yesterday and you never celebrated. It's not too late to celebrate and this you should do by teaching" he told the cheering teachers. 

Operating withing the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for preventive measures like face mask wearing, hand washing and physical distancing were hammered hard on the teachers to ensure their respected. They were told the medical team of the district hospital shall be visiting the schools for COVID-19 screening. 

Medical Team from the Mbengwi District Hospital Combatting COVID-19 in Schools

Unconfirmed statistics talk of over 200 pupils and students present on day 1 of school resumption in Mbengwi today. We can't also confirm rumours that schools in unsafe areas mostly the suburbs will be temporarily transferred to Mbengwi central town so that teaching and learning can go on. We are still monitoring events as they unfold on the ground and shall be reporting as they develop.