Interview: “South West Is 95% Ready For The New School Year”

Where are we with preparation for the new school year, 2022/2023 in the South West Region?
As far as preparedness is concerned for back-to-school the South West Region is more than 95% ready as far as secondary education is concerned. We started the preparation as soon as Common Entrance and “Concours d’entrée en sixieme” results came out. We coordinated, harmonized and evaluated the results then put up the list in the schools so that parents whose children where to get into form one and Sixieme this year were aware as far back as July. The Ministry of Secondary Education had sent out the official booklist that will be used in the 2022/2023 school year. We transmitted them down to the schools so that parents will be able to have it on time.

With the publications of end of course examinations by Office du Baccalaureat du Cameroon and Cameroon General Certificate of Education Board, parents and students are aware that schools are going to begin. We planned to have a two day sector conference where we will use the first day to school these partners and stakeholders like bursars on financial management of our schools. The following day we talk about the pedagogic preparation, transmit instructions from the Minister and of course the official launch of the school year by South West Governor.

What are all the secondary schools under you jurisdiction doing at the moment?
All secondary schools are preparing their campuses for the new school year. We have carpenters in schools repairing broken desks, builders finishing up with uncompleted structures and mending floors that are broken and many other workers making sure that the school environment is kept clean. They are cutting grass, washing classrooms and disinfecting them together with the dormitories and refectories for boarding schools. Last year, we expected 429 schools to operate.

Of this number only 233 functioned. We think that this year many more will function. We are expecting all our 429 schools to open their doors. We use this opportunity to call on all stakeholders, parents, chiefs and their traditional councils, elites and politicians to ensure that schools that are found in their communities open their doors. Where...