24th Int’l Teacher’s Day:

Kumba teachers told to stop being booksellers

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

Meme education delegates march on teacher's day

Meme SDO, Chamberlin Ntou’ou Ndong has asked all teachers in Kumba in particular and Meme Division in general to stop all illegal businesses on school campuses that end up turning schools into bookshops.

            He dished out the warning on Thursday October 5, 2017 while addressing teachers on commemorative activities to mark the 24th edition of the international Teacher’s Day under the theme “Teaching in freedom, empowering teachers”.

            He advised the teachers not only to use the teacher’s day to reflect on their role as teachers but also take stock of the state policy vis a vis education.  To him based on the theme of this year’s celebration, teachers should be allowed to exercise their duties wherever and whenever in freedom with lot of professionalism. He called on teachers to fight against violence in the school milieu, drug trafficking, corruption, absenteeism, amongst sundry other ills.

            Addressing the teachers on the occasion, the Divisional Delegate of secondary Education for Meme, Abunaw Aghim Obase congratulated all the teachers for their bravery and steadfastness during the present moments in the country.

            Harping on the theme, the Divisional delegate revealed it falls in line with the world global education 2030 agenda adopted by the world community two years ago. He noted that it highlights the need to support teachers as reflected in the agenda’s sustainable development goals to imagine how society will look like without teachers.

            He lamented the fact that the prevailing economic situation affects the purchasing power of the Cameroonian teachers especially those in Meme Division. Thus, a good number of qualified teachers continue to abandon teaching jobs for less qualified ones while others go on self-exile abroad in search of greener pastures.

            Abunaw Aghim told his hearers that the international teacher’s day created in 1994 is derived from the recognition by the United Nations on the vital role teaching and education play in society. He however repealed to parents of Meme division to see the need to send their children to school.

            “Many things may be wrong but we shall not be the same persons to kill the same children we are fighting for” Abunaw pleaded on parents adding that pressure mounted on them by supporters of ghost towns has reduced base on the impressive school turnout on daily basis and based on the fact many parents are now realisisng the need to send their children to school.

            As part of the event, some 18 teachers were recognised for their steadfast role in the teaching profession and contribution to the success of their various institutions. Five of them comprising four principals and a vice principal were decorated with medals while 13 others comprising teachers were awarded meritorious certificates in recognition of their outstanding role in their various schools.