Southern Cameroons Bishops gathering at their annual Meeting of the Bamenda Provincial Episcopal Conference in Bamenda from Thursday, 16^th to Thursday, 23 ^rd August 2018 have issued a pastoral letter to Christains of Southern Cameroons amongst others, they have expressed their appeal for schools to continue to function. The Bishops who say schools within the last two years have been irregular, reiterated that they have been trapped between La Republique Du Cameroun Forces and Southern Cameroons Defense Forces popularly known as Amba Boys. According to the Bishops, the present crisis has gone beyond schools boycotts thus the church should be allowed to provide holistic and quality education to Southern Cameroonians, the Bishops maintained.

The Bishop in their communique writes “The school boycott for the last two years, with a threat now of a third year, has had a deep negative impact on children and families. Schooling has been irregular in the two regions. Some, who can afford, have sent their children to English schools in other regions of the country or out of the country. So, it is the children of the poor who are left to wander in the bushes and forests or simply stay “safe” at home. Many parents in these two regions would actually like to send their children to school; but they are afraid of the soldiers who flood our streets and of the ‘Amba boys’ who threaten to burn and destroy the schools. We reiterate the mission of the Church to give quality and holistic education to all our children. We sincerely think that the ongoing crisis has gone beyond school boycott. That is why, without wanting to compromise or jeopardise the deep aspirations of the people, we continue to keep our schools open for parents to send their children. We ardently appeal that the schools should continue to function…”

BaretaNews notes that the Southern Cameroons Leadership meeting in Washington DC August 17-20th, 2018 maintained their call for non school resumption siting insecurity as a major concern because students could be trapped in the on going gun battle. However, a cross section of Southern Cameroonians at home seemed to have disagreed with this position. Many are calling for alternatives if their children will continue to sit home for the third academic year running. BaretaNews is of the opinion that the art of schooling will be very difficult in Southern Cameroons as self defense forces plan to up self defense operations due to the fact that the current situation is that of war of independence, however, Southern Cameroons Leadership should explain to the people and provide some form of alternatives such as home education, community education, education through technology etc. The people must be seen to be in tandem with Southern Cameroons Leadership.

However, we note that the final decision just as last year wherein schools resumed albeit shallowly will rest in the hands of the parents and we are confident that such a decision will be made in line with the security situation in Southern Cameroons. It is really indeed a sad one for a vast majority of our people but the war of independence MUST GO ON.

Mark Bareta.