Back To School 2024: Shocking Statistics From Momo, Ngoketunjia Divisions

Achieve Picture

By Raymond Dingana

The 2024/2025 academic year has begun in the crisis ravaged North West Region of Cameroon, with some divisions struggling significantly in terms of student attendance during the first week of school.

Speaking in Bamenda on Monday, September 16, 2024, the North West Regional Delegate for Secondary Education, Mbaijong Ezekiel, emphasized that returning to school has not been easy. 

According to Mbaijong, Momo and Ngoketungia Divisions recorded the lowest turnout in the region, emerging first from the bottom of the attendance chart for the 2024 school year.

" As at Friday September 13,Momo Division had zero learners in school, while Ngoketungia had only two girls in school,"

 stated Mbaijong.

In contrast, some divisions showed promising attendance figures like Mezam which recorded over 1,730 learners, Menchum with 462, Bui with 1,742, Boyo registering 1,288 learners, while Donga Mantung recorded what authorities describe as an impressive 7,200 learners in school.

Authorities Blame Separatists for Low Turnout

While presenting the back to school statistics, Mbaijong Ezekiel attributed the low attendance to the ongoing activities of separatist fighters, who had previously announced their own reopening date despite not having established any schools on the ground. 

"The back-to-school initiative was significantly impacted by lockdown calls from separatists," 

Mbaijong noted, emphasizing that the situation could have been better in the absence of armed conflict. 

Unfortunately, resolving the Anglophone armed conflict through peaceful means does not seem to be a priority for the current regime.

Picture Of An Abandoned School Used For Illustration 

Even regional representatives have struggled to find the courage to advocate for an inclusive dialogue aimed at ending the crisis.

For the past seven years, the Anglophone crisis has been a major contributor to the challenges faced in education, highlighting the inadequacy of measures put in place to handle the crisis amicably. 

Despite these challenges, Anglophone parents remain steadfast in their belief that education is the key to positive change.

They are committed to ensuring their children receive an education, regardless of the obstacles they face, caring very less about what those who claim to represent them are up to.

Many believe that the situation would change for the better when separatists imposed lockdown of the Anglophone regions of Cameroon must have over.

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