10,000 Teachers Might Become Unemployed

Authorities at the Ministry of Basic Education say founders must abide by the law.

The recent text signed by the Minister of Basic Education prohibiting the functioning of certain schools under her control has not only create controversy between founders of the schools and the Ministry of Basic Education, but has also provoked a serious problem of unemployment on the part of teachers working in these schools.

As the Centre Regional Delegate of Basic Education, Tobias Ndjié Mveng alongside other collaborators continue in the field work to close schools which do not function in conformity with the law, many teachers are already wondering what would become of them as the new academic year begins.

The founder of a nursery and primary school at the Etoug-Ebe neighbourhood in Yaounde, Michael-William Bitschong says over 10 years he was never told he needed two separate texts authorising him to create and open a nursery and primary school in the country.

Now that a text has been signed forbidding the nursery section of his school from functioning, Michael-William Bitschong says seven of his teachers working in that section risk losing their jobs.

The situation of teachers in Michael-William Bitschong's school is not as serious as that of "Le Petit Kevin" Nursery and Primary school whose founder Simon-Pierre Njami Bebo says 17 teachers are already afraid of becoming unemployed in the days ahead. Another founder says some 20 teachers might also become employment due to the decision. T

obias Ndjié Mveng says over two years, the Ministry of Basic Education have carried out sensitisation campaigns for founders of private basic institution to conform with the law but they ignored. Even teachers who work in such schools know they are not authorised. Such teachers have themselves to blame now, he said.