Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


In Cameroon's Anglophone Regions, Some Schools Reopen After 4-Year Closure

Moki Edwin Kindzeka

   YAOUNDE - Civilians in Cameroon's restive English-speaking regions have
   braved separatists' threats and reopened close to 140 of about 475
   schools closed by fighters in the last four years.

   Some Anglophone activists have, for the first time since the crisis
   began, backed the civilians in the initiative to reopen closed schools,
   while some fighters are threatening to abduct teachers and students who
   resume classes. But hundreds of children, who have been deprived of
   education, and their teachers are returning to the schools despite
   threats.
   Roland Ngwang, the highest government secondary education official in
   the English-speaking North-West region says many parents are sending
   their children to schools closed by separatists four years ago.
   "Anybody in the region who is a parent is passionate and determined
   because for four years running now, the effect of the crisis has been
   quite serious in the region. This tells you that we have parents and
   students who are so resilient, who are very determined to get
   themselves completely invested in the activity of education," he said.
   Ngwang said close to 15,000 students have been present in the schools
   since Oct. 5, when the 2020-2021 school year started. He said only
   2,000 students were present in September last year when the 2019-2020
   school year began.
   Evelyn Adamu, head teacher of Government Primary School in the
   English-speaking northwestern village of Binka, said she received more
   than 600 children in the first week of the school year. She said the
   children and their teachers are counting on the government for
   protection.
   "When the crisis started, the boys (fighters) burned the office in this
   school and a classroom, so we had to escape. We have come again this
   year and we know that God being there for us we shall succeed. We want
   to thank the administration. We want to thank the military who have
   been there, the vigilance group (militia) of Binka who have been there
   fighting for us and supporting us," Adamu said.
   The government said 40 schools in the English-speaking South-West
   region also reopened this week. The schools were closed in 2017
   following repeated abductions of teachers and students, along with the
   torching of infrastructure by separatist fighters.

.