SW Governor Condemns non participation of students at launch of National Campaign on Civic Awareness in Kumba

The Governor of the South West Region, Bernard Okalia Bilai has launched the National Campaign on Civic Awareness and National Integration in Meme Division. This took place on Wednesday November 11, 2015 at the Grand Stand on the Common Wealth Avenue in Kumba, Head Quarters of Meme Division. Speaking at the occasion, the Governor condemned the quasi absence of students and condemned the non participation of those who were present. 

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The Governor's message packed speech started with an outright condemnation of the behaviour of Secondary School students who attended the occasion who according to him were not participating but rather chatting in little groups along the road. He said this was a tacit confirmation of the fact that every thing being spoken at the occasion would be thrown in the dust bin immediately he turned his back on them. Practically putting the Divisional Delegates under attack, the Governor obliged school authorities present to rapidly re-organise the students from two out of the three secondary establishments that were present at the occasion. The students of Government Bilingual High School Kumba and those of Victory  Comprehensive College, Kumba. The Administrative Boss of the South West Region then called on the Senior Divisional Officer for Meme Koulbout Aman David to redress such lack lustre attitude of concerned parties during occasions of such magnitude.

He recalled that in 2013, Cameroon hosted an International Colloquium on Civic Education and National Integration and that this served as a spring board for the implementation of this National Campaign that was presently being launched in Cameroon. This is timely as it comes at a time when there is a marked increase in the non respect for State Institutions, civic rights, persistent corruption, Religious intolerance, the non respect for high way codes, indecent dressing, urban disorder among many other things. 

Chief Justice Benjamin Itoe, SDO Meme Koulbout Aman David, Governor Okalia Bilai, Gov't Delegate Victor Ngoh Nkelle...

The campaign he further said was timely as it came at a time when insecurity was at its peak with kids being used as terrorists and suicide bombing agents. The objective of the campaign he said was to let Cameroonians demonstrate patriotism with a view to accompanying the head of State in Nation Building. " I count on us for the success of this occasion," he said.

The Government Delegate to the Kumba City Council, Victor Ngoh Nkelle in an eloquent speech said this was the largest National Campaign ever organised by President Paul Biya as it touched the whole society and a cross section of ministries. He called on instructors of Basic Education to teach by good example.

Harping on bad habits such as urinating and defecating in public, propagating contraband, among many social ills, he said these had become the norm. He said the best solution was to train children from childhood. This he said, leaves the family at the heart of everything since it remains the main trainer of children. Victor Ngoh Nkelle called on churches and other social entities to help in keeping the family together.

A major twist in the events of the day came when the  Governor's Chief of protocol reprimanded the representative of the Divisional Delegate of Secondary Education for Meme, for stating that she was speaking on behalf of the Minister of Secondary Education. He said the Secondary Education Delegate's representative could not on any occasion speak on behalf of the Minister. 

Orock Gladys Etaka Epse Yousa Enga, Chief of Service for Administrative and Financial Affaires at the Divisional Delegation of Secondary Education Meme represented the Delegate on the occasion and presented a paper on "the State of Civic Education and Moralization in Secondary Schools in Meme Division." On being contacted by this journalist for comment, she said she had simply been misquoted insisting that at no time did she state that she was speaking on behalf of the Minister of Secondary Education.  In her presentation, the closest sentence that talks about representing somebody runs thus: " It is with great honour and delight that I stand here today to make this presentation on behalf of the Ministry of Secondary Education. I am here representing the Divisional Delegate of Secondary Education who is unavoidably absent."  In her own words when contacted by this reporter she explained it in the following manner; " The Divisional Delegation for Secondary Education is responsible for all Secondary schools both public and private in Meme Division as well as the professional schools. We also look at what these schools do in terms of pedagogy, administration and co-curricular activities. That's why we have those services here. Now as far as the Ministry is concerned, the Minister of Secondary Education puts in place certain measures or rules and the Divisional Delegation now makes sure that everything is carried out as prescribed. The Delegation acts as a follow up to make sure that the everything is implemented. So the Delegation of Secondary Education directly represents the Ministry of Secondary Education in Meme Division. The Divisional Delegate of Secondary Education is the direct representative of the Minister of Secondary Education."

Meantime the principals of the schools harangued by the Governor  did not comment on the issue. While the principal of Government High School declined commenting, the principal of Victory Comprehensive College could not be reached by phone at press time. These school authorities will however be expected to comment on the issue in our subsequent publications.
Another important class of personalities that participated at the occasion were the traditional rulers. Chief Peter Esambi Ngoh of Malende Kumba summed up his impressions in the following manner. "I call on my people to fall back on what our fore fathers did and how they ruled our community. In the sense that a child is a child to all parents. Every parent should be capable of moulding the child to come out right. In the past, there was a law on how women were supposed to dress and this was strictly adhered to. Today it is a completely different situation. The boys and the girls dress horribly, and I think something should be done.  

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