By George Etoh-Anzah in Bamenda.
According to officials of the regional delegation of secondary education, about 40 % of pupils and students of school-going age are without access to basic learning kits.
Figures presented to regional administrative authorities show that as a result of the crisis many of these vulnerable children are either victims of the crisis or are from peasant families who can neither afford regular feeding nor attend to educational needs.
With distress calls from rights organizations and other well-minded individuals the school resumption though now a reality still continues to know setbacks. Pupils and students are either compelled to use single notebooks of 60 or 80 leaves for multiple subjects, or beg other school didactics including textbooks or carry their books in wrapping papers. With the advent of the rains in Bui like other divisions, the desire for education sometimes seems far-fetched.
The need for concerted action to remedy the present stalemate is of utmost priority. The political elite therefore can play a vital role to the normalization of the statusquo.
For this reason Hon Verla Lukong responded to distress calls from some underprivileged parents of pupils and students who have not been to school since the start of the school year and whose desire has been to attain the best heights in education like their peers elsewhere.
On Saturday 13th October, she offered school didactics, schoolbags, pens, pencils, rulers and exercise books to over 50 pupils to facilitate their quest for education. She opines that “knowledge in the mind of a child is the best gift which cannot be snatched from him”. According to the people’s representative, every other material gift can be taken away but knowledge is that precious gift that not only can it not be snatched but plays a vital role in shaping.
Quizzed as to why the gift is coming after almost a month since school effectively resumed across the national territory, she said “over a month ago I appealed to parents to send their children to school. Many of those you see here today informed me of their willingness and they hadn’t the means to do so. I therefore together with my team had to do an assessment and today I am happy we can respond to the needs ” She further believes knowledge has no time limit and for every serious child the chances are so wide he or she will catch up.
According to Haija B, a beneficiary parent, the essence of school resumption is now felt and school going now a reality. “I am particularly grateful to the member of parliament for this gift. I have always loved to send the kids but I hadn’t the means, today I am so grateful my wish has become a reality”.
In addition to the didactics she handed out cubes of soap aimed at assisting parents keep the children clean, alongside a significant cash gift for transportation to their respective homes.
She alongside the beneficiaries hails from Jakiri, Bui division of the Northwest region.
