Dialogue As Key Path To Educational Solutions

Within the past years, the educational sector in the country has witnessed some setbacks. Teachers in search of better working conditions put in place a series of complaints, some of which the government offered immediate responses. But like in most situations where differences exist, people are often tempted to take advantage of certain loopholes to either hike their demands or reroute the course of action for ulterior motives. That has not been different with the grievances presented by the secondary and primary education sectors, in particular in the year 2022.     
Looking at the financial implications of their request for various benefits to be paid to them, the Head of State ordered a thorough examination of their concerns and the application of appropriate measures to provide adequate solutions in order to make teachers more comfortable. Of course, the huge budgetary allocations that are needed to satisfy a professional sector that covers the entire national territory can be obvious. Insisting on the importance of dialogue as President Paul Biya stated in his State-of-the-nation’s address on 31 December, 2023 underlines not just the role that concerted effort can play in finding solutions to such intractable challenges, but also the fact that the problem is shared by all. Teachers, parents and the government have the imperative need to work together in ensuring that any hurdles to quality education for the children should be well tackled. It can never be a one-sided approach because once pupils and students are not well educated, the parents would have spent so much for nothing and at the level of the State, youth who are considered as the future of the nation, would be unable to play their functions effectively. In addition, no teacher conscious of their professional tasks will feel satisfied to see their product incapable of taking the relay baton when time comes. Consequently, they would clearly agree with the Head of State when he affirmed that: “Strong measures will be taken to ensure that our children do not fall victim to substandard education”.  
By resolving on dialogue as the way forward, those concern in terms of providing solutions or posing the problems would have the opportunity to communicate and understand the difficulties involved so as to go for encompassing measures which take into consideration all the ramifications that any particular situation might present to the entire country. This is because in providing adequate solutions to the problems posed by the teachers, it will definitely call for certain sectors of the national life to either be sacrificed or kept aside for the time being. There is also the logical understanding that at every time in the life of the country, there are a variety of issues which must be handled, most often simultaneously in order to ensure serenity and harmony in the functioning of national institutions. Having in mind such multifaceted nature of national issues will finitely facilitate the search for necessary compromises that can help in building a spirit of trust and understanding.
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