By Gilla Everdine
The 2024/2025 school year has kicked off in the North West Region of Cameroon with some divisions struggling with low turnout. Donga Mantung (DM) Division stole the spotlight in the opening week of school resumption with a record-breaking student attendance despite the region’s ongoing armed crisis.
During the 14th Ordinary Session of the North West Regional Assembly (NWRA) that held from the 14th to 18th of September 2024, Mbaijong Ezekiel, Regional Delegate for Secondary Education painted a mixed picture of school resumption in the region.
He reported that the return to classrooms has been anything but smooth, as non-state actors enforced a two-week “ghost town” lockdown across the North West and South West Regions. This he added left schools in several divisions almost empty, with some recording shockingly low student numbers.
In his report, Ezekiel revealed that Donga Mantung led the charge, with an impressive 7,263 students returning to school. Meanwhile, Mezam, often considered the region’s educational hub, trailed with just 1,742 students. Bui come close with 1,737, while Boyo recorded 1,288, and Menchum only 462 students in the opening week.
In a startling contrast, Ngoketunjia registers a mere two students, and Momo saw zero turnout—an alarming reflection of the ongoing socio-political turmoil affecting the region.
Ezekiel credits the Regional Assembly’s proactive efforts for ensuring that education continues amidst the crisis. “Despite the challenges, many students were able to sit for their General Certificate of Education (GCE) exams, thanks to the Assembly’s support,” he said, highlighting the crucial role of the Assembly in keeping education alive in the conflict zone.
The Assembly’s commitment to education doesn’t stop at exams. Last year, it sponsored 563 vulnerable candidates for official exams, with 406 successfully passing their GCE Ordinary and Advanced Levels. Additionally, 1,599 students received much-needed didactic materials, while 1,420 have been promoted to advanced classes, providing a glimmer of hope in a region still grappling with unrest.
In an ongoing effort to rebuild and revitalize schools, the Regional Assembly has constructed 563 new classrooms, rehabilitated 1,599, and donated over 1,000 benches to improve learning conditions.
Yet, the challenges persist. The region’s educational statistics reveal that only 290 schools were functional during the previous academic year, a stark reminder of the effects of the ongoing conflict.
As of September 13, 2024, over 12,494 students have returned to schools across the entire North West Region, with Donga Mantung taking the lead in attendance.
To recognize and celebrate academic resilience, the Regional Assembly plans to honor 103 outstanding students from last year’s exams, including 45 from technical schools. In addition, they will provide educational materials to students in need and help issue birth certificates across the region’s 35 municipalities, a crucial step to formalizing school enrollment for many children.
While the numbers reflect both hope and hardship, the determination of students, teachers, and local authorities to push forward in the face of adversity is a powerful testament to the region’s resilience.
