Poor cocoa harvests mars back to school in Meme

By Johnson Batuo in Kumba

Poor cocoa harvest due to the prolonged drought has marred the 2016/2017 back to school in Meme division, The Median has learnt.

                This was the view expressed by principals and proprietors of some public, private and denominational schools that The Median visited on Monday 5 September 2016.  According to these heads of school, the turn out on the first day of the school year was timid. They said some parents complained they did not have money to pay the registration fees of their children because of poor cocoa harvests. Cocoa is the main cash crop (money earner) of the population of Meme division.

                However, the principals and proprietors expressed the hope that things will change by the second week and many more students would avail themselves for classes.

                It should however be noted that most teachers and administrative staff showed up for work on day one of the academic year.

                The First Assistant SDO for Meme, EpolewaneVerklin accompanied by the Meme Delegate of secondary education visited some public schools in the division to ascertain that activities had effectively taken-off.  They visited notably CCAS Kumba, GBHS Kosala, Kumba II, GBHS Mambanda, GBTTC, GBTTTC and GBTHS Barombi Kang

                 Meanwhile, some of principals of Government schools who spoke to this reporter complained that the minister’s decision limiting the number of students per class at 60 has greatly reduced the bribe money they usually make at the beginning of each academic year. 

                Most of the students seeking admission into form one have been stranded or forced to seek admission into private schools.