Sunday, 4 October 2015

“Teaching of religion as way of boosting morals in schools is failing.”



 -Divisional Delegate of Secondary Education, Meme


The falling morals in our secondary schools was at the center of the maiden Divisional Conference of the Private Educational Commission for Meme Division organised by the Divisional Delegation of Secondary Education at the Presbyterian High School at Mbongue Road in Kumba on Wednesday September 30. Among the many touching declarations that were uttered by educational stakeholders assembled at this meeting was that which insinuated that the teaching of Religion as a means of boosting morals was failing. This was made by the Divisional Delegate of Secondary Education for Meme Akwo John Eyoh.
The teaching of religion as a means of boosting morals turned out to be very controversial as many pointed out that its role as a booster of morals had failed. Akwo John Eyoh attributed this failure to the proliferation of divergent Christian teachings in the many Christian groupings that were springing up. In the past this wasn’t the case and morals were reasonably high he said.
On the issue of the quality of results in secondary schools, the delegate said a good foundation in form one determined the nature of results in Form Five. The foundation in secondary school he said could be attained by securing a link between primary school and early secondary, specifically the form one students. Once this link is attained, the rest just flows given the right teachers he said.
Another important issue that was touched at the conference was the issue of security. Security was presented as a vital need for children and schools called upon to buy metal detectors. However, considering the fact that not all schools could afford this, vigilance was prescribed in such situations. No person they said should be allowed to move into the school compounds and go straight to the classrooms. Meantime all students it was agreed should have name tags on their uniforms.
On issues of discipline, the Delegate said corporal punishment had been banned some time ago but added that the handling of discipline was tricky and influenced by many things. This he said was influenced by the institution in question and the age of the school administrator among other things.
On issues of pedagogy, it was stated by resource persons from the Delegation that students should receive at least 900 hours of lessons excluding time set aside for assessment. General staff meetings it was prescribed should take place on the first Friday after school re-opening.
In the same vein, assessment it was said should be organised during sequences by class masters and not reserved to be done at the end. Also prescribed were the need for meetings between administration, class teachers and class masters. Intensive pedagogic follow up activity by class councils were prescribed to take place every month.
Meantime other important things touched during this important meeting were FENASCO dues and the issue of mercenaries, sanitation, Parent Teachers Associations, late submission of reports from schools and lateness in the contribution of dues. The Divisional Delegate however hoped that this was going to be the beginning of a new era in the life of the secondary school family in Meme.
  

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