- 361 Clandestine Institutions Closed Down By Shey Wirba The 2-day Basic Education sectoral conference has wrapped up in the North West Region. During the conference which held at the Bamenda conference hall between Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30, 2012, the North West Regional delegate of Basic Education, Fon Susan Nyanga, announced that some 18 Japanese primary schools given to the North West Region will be constructed this academic year, 2012/2013. The delegate explained that out of the over 800 clandestine primary and nursery schools identified in the country, a total of 361 are in the North West. She warned that none of those schools would open this year until they regularize their situations. Taking stock of the 2011/2012 academic year just ended, the delegate gave kudos for the teachers who together with the PTA and other stakeholders made North West proud in the end of year course with the exemplary results. According to Fon Susan, North West scored 84% pass in First School Leaving Certificate and 77% in Government Common Entrance in the 2011/2012 academic year. In 2012/2012, the delegate noted that there were 2892 primary and nursery schools in the region, over 10592 teachers, 425299 pupils and 900 structures. “Our success story wouldn’t have been achieved without the collaboration of some NGOs, PTA, teachers and school management board”. She thanked the mayors who identified basic education as their councils’ top priority. However, Susan Fon lashed out at some teachers who took absenteeism as their personality trait and others who were corrupt. On the government’s assistance, the delegate hailed her for free education in primary schools which has enabled the poor send children to schools, including the minimum package sent to schools and most especially the payment of the teachers’ research and documentation allowances. Observing that the manner the teachers prepare their pupils determines their performance in the end of year courses, the representative of the North West Governor, opined that the hard work was reflected in this year’s primary schools end of course examinations in the North West. He entreated them to wage a war against corruption, absenteeism, and particularly called on the North West Basic Education authorities to ensure that no clandestine primary or nursery schools is opened in the region until they regularize their situation.

By Tegha Otega

The Government Delegate to the Bamenda City Council, Vincent Nji Ndumu has told the population of the North West Region and Bamenda city council in particular that upon completion, the ultra-modern bus station earmarked to be constructed at Up-station, Bamendankwe, will give a lasting solution to traffic problems in Bamenda.

Presenting the projects of the Bamenda city council and some worries of the people of the North West Region to the Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development, Emmanuel Nganou Djoumessi, during his working visit to the North West Region on Tuesday August 28, 2012, in Bamenda, Vincent Ndumu who lamented that the hundreds of inter-urban buses which leave and enter Bamenda daily, remains the city’s headache, was optimistic that the envisaged construction of the multi-purpose bus station at Up-station will solve the problems. He said the bus station will function like any airport where all planes land and take-off. “In the same way, all buses entering or leaving Bamenda would use our multi-purpose bus station at Up-station, Bamendankwe”. He disclosed that the bus station is expected to raise at least, FCFA 4 million on daily basis for the city council.

Beside the ultra-modern bus station, the government delegate said other projects border around a modern Bamenda food market of 12 square metres wide with between 700 to 1000 sheds, Bamenda main market of 17.000 square meters with a shopping centre, offices, conference hall, multi-media centre and reclamation of land, municipal lake, canals, construction of new layouts including a sewage treatment centre. He said the projects are estimated to cost FCFA 50 million.

Vincent Ndumu called on the government to hasten the construction of the Ring road, make the Bamenda thermal plant fully functional, construct the second entrance to Bamenda, construct hydro-electric power on Menchum falls, complete a carriage way from Bafoussam to Bamenda to check death traps, and rehabilitate the impassable roads within the city council.

The visibly satisfied Minister Djoumessi, promised that hydro electricity project will kick-start in Menchum falls as soon as feasibility studies are completed, given that Chinese have already taken the contract. He assured the population of the North West that government is already sourcing funds for the construction of the Bamenda ring road.

The purpose of Minister Djoumessi’s tour was for him to acquaint the living forces and the population of the region with the current mechanisms for identifying, programming and budgeting development projects, prompt their commitment for the ownership and use of the mechanisms in the identification, programming and budgeting of development projects on state’s resources, and record the needs in terms of the regional development projects and produce a single document.