After events on October I:

There has been a marked improvement in schools attendance in Kumba, Meme division since the failed attempt by secessionists to declare the independence of Southern Cameroons on October 1.

            Parents in Meme division in general and Kumba in particular seem to be gradually changing their minds about calls for schools boycott in the two Anglophone regions of Cameroon.

            Some parents who spoke to The Median said they cannot continue keeping their children at home while children in other regions are going to school normally.

“My three children have been out of school for more than a year now. They keep asking me when they will resume school, but I don’t always know what to tell them,” said a parent, who noted that they were assured that schools would resume soon after the independence declaration on October 1. But that October 1 has come and gone and nothing has since been said.

            “So I have decided to send my kids to school,” the parent, who gave his name as Mr. Makia, said.

            Other parents who also talked to this reporter shared Makia’s position. Many said they have decided to send their kids to school no matter what.

            Schools in Kumba and other urban centres in Meme Division have witnessed an increasingly massive students’ turnout within the past two or so weeks. 

            Stopovers by this reporter in some secondary and primary and nursery schools in Kumba, revealed massive presence of students and pupils, and with effective classes going on.

            When contacted, some school officials put the school attendance rate at more than 90%.

            Officials at the delegations of basic and secondary education confirmed this for urban centres but regretted the very low schools attendance in the rural areas.

            Also, most of the students were seen in their school uniforms, unlike before when they appeared in assorted wears due to fear of ‘the ghosts’. 

            It should be noted that such massive resumption of classes in Kumba and other towns West of the mongo is coming at a time when the president of the outlawed Anglophone Civil society Consortium, Agbor Balla has called for effective back to school.

            Agbor Balla in separate interviews with Equinox TV and the BBC said he is in support of back to school. The level-headed leader of the outlawed consortium said he thinks pupils and students have sacrificed a lot in the struggle and should be allowed to resume classes while the struggle continues.