Difficult for Beginners in New School Year

Schools reopened around the country on Monday September 3, 2013. In Yaounde, even though it was an exciting day for many children, it was a rather gloomy day for some especially for beginners. It was a day many will not like to remember because they were separated from their parents for the first time.

At the Amity International College in Bastos, Yaounde Wu Jiarui, 3, was inconsolable. She was screaming at the top of her voice and holding to her mother's dress. She wanted to go back home with her parents. It was not possible because the teachers took her to the classroom and closed the door so that no child could go out. Mrs Li, the mother, said it was difficult for her as she see her daughter in tears. She was however convinced by the school authorities that her daughter will be fine. In two classrooms, nearly all the children were crying. "Take me to mama" was the yell emitted by several.

The Vice Principal of the School, Alex Nukwu said the classes began at 7:15 a.m. He said a good number of children come to school on Day One. He said the first day was for the children to get acquainted with their new environment. The greatest challenge was faced with the Pre-nursery and Nursery One pupils who are crying because they want to go back home. Snacks were shared to calm them down.

However, the situation was different in secondary schools. At the Lycée Général Leclerc, Georges Emvoutou Evouna, 11, a first year student was happy to be in college. He said he arrived at the school at 7:00 a.m. and the first lesson was Mathematics followed by Latin. "The difference is that there are many subjects in college than what we had in the primary school," he told Cameroon Tribune. His classmate, Moïse Njal Mbock, said he was brought to school by his parents. He also found his new school interesting.

In one of the classrooms, 6e 6, English language classes were going on. The class teacher Evelyne Sofi said the children were so excited to be in college. On the first day, the children learnt how to greet, introducing themselves to get acquainted with each other. "The children are rather promising and optimistic as compared to last year," she said. One of the students, Kelly Esther Akamba Mvomo, 10, said she was brought to school at 6:50 a.m. by her mother. She said she is happy to be in college for her first time and she expressed determination to work hard.