So That Our Schools Might Become – Truly - Safer

The Ministry of Secondary Education, the charity, Plan International Cameroon, the United Nations Children’s Organization, UNICEF, partner government ministries and organizations on Monday, December 30, 2024 met in Yaounde to approve a roadmap for the Safe School Declaration. The international initiative was ratified by Cameroon in 2018. A national technical committee was established to implement the newly approved roadmap.  

Considerable Improvements  
Dendi Kiye, Plan International Cameroon National Director for Emergency Response told journalists that since Cameroon endorsed the Safe School Declaration in 2018, the number of attacks on school buildings, teachers, students and pupils has reduced. “Today, the number of schools still occupied by combatants and Non-State Armed Groups has also reduced. So also is the number of abandoned schools. All stakeholders have understood that school should continue even in the midst of armed conflict, and that school campuses must be protected in times of conflict,” Mr. Kiye stressed. 

Several Activities Undertaken 
According to a joint presentation by Plan International Cameroon and UNICEF, the number of attacks on schools has continued to be on the decrease between January and August 2024 in the North West, South West and Far North Regions. After the endorsement of the Declaration by Cameroon, and with the support of partners, implementation began with a certain number of activities undertaken. Such as the creation of a local Safe School Declaration Committee in the Mayo Tsanaga Division of Far North Region. 

Cameroon’s Experience Shared 
Cameroon participated in the Fourth International Conference on the Declaration on Safe Schools from October 27-28, 2021 in Nigeria. During which the Minister of Secondary Education, Prof. Nalova Lyonga shared the country’s experience on “Continuing safe education in conflict zones.”

Other Activities   
A national workshop was also organized in Douala in August 2023 to develop the Safe School roadmap on the implementation of the Declaration. While another workshop on the same topic for West and Central Africa held in Senegal in December 2023. Meanwhile, an action plan on Safe School has been developed in the Ministry of Basic Education. While various capacity-building sessions were held for stakeholders, particularly the defence and security forces.

Not Achieved Overnight!
“Getting schools safe is not achieved overnight, it is a continuous process. I believe we are getting somewhere because people are becoming more aware of the fact that schools should not be touched. This is why a lot more schools are going on in the country now than in 2018. People have become more conscious of the fact that children need quality education. The Safe School Declaration enables everybody to be committed. We want legislation that makes it clear what is not tolerated on school campuses,” said the Minister of Secondary Education.

Deterrent Measures 
“Education is everybody’s business. The Safe School Declaration affirms our commitment to see children study in safe schools. Today, there is lesser violence in schools because deterrent measures have been taken, like the installation of security cameras on school campuses. Education cannot wait; just like life cannot wait. Life and education cannot wait. Our challenge is to ensure that the two do not wait.

Conflict-sensitive Education  
“We need to develop education that is conflict-sensitive. Education is synonymous with respect for human rights. Education spaces must be safe spaces. Let us do everything to prevent our children from becoming criminals, assassins. We cannot allow crime to overcome us. Teachers should be exemplary in conduct. No Cameroonian should be a bystander. We must do something to prevent or report crime in schools. Remember, education begins at home.” Minister Nalova recalled. 

Moving Process Forward 
Juliette Hoenni, the Deputy Country Representative for Cameroon of the United Nations Children’s Organization, UNICEF – who spoke on behalf of international partners – said the Safe School Declaration is key for Cameroon because it insists that every child be allowed to go to school. That no school is attacked or used by any combatants as a base. 
“The workshop sought to put in place concrete plans to move forward the Safe School policy. The roadmap is already being implemented. Measures like teacher training, ensuring that all actors understand what needs to be done to protect schools, have been taken. But more can be done – some schools are not functioning,” Mrs. Hoenni said. 

120 Signatory Countries 
“Ensuring security in the education system in Cameroon contributes to the development of human capital through inclusive, quality learning for all children in a healthy, safe and protective learning environment. The workshop constituted an ideal opportunity to make concrete the commitments made by Cameroon by endorsing the Safe School Declaration in 2018. Currently, 120 countries have committed to the Declaration.

Strong Political Signal 
“In a context marked by the crisis in the North West and South West Regions, and the persistence of attacks by members of non-state armed groups in the Far North region, and by prioritizing the implementation of commitments set out in the Declaration, Cameroon is thus sending a strong political signal. And setting an example in terms of concrete measures to protect education in armed conflicts,” Hoenni noted.

Adequate Learning Spaces 
The learning environment must be adequate to support the development of all learners fr...