New Academic Year Launched in South West

Buea (Fako) - Following the reopening of schools in the South West region on September 2, 2013, the atmosphere in kindergarten, pre-nursery, nursery and primary schools was hectic with teachers and pupils determined to make hay from the onset. Their determination was buttressed with the presence of the Secretary of State for Basic Education, Benoit Ndong Soumhet, who was in the South West on Monday for an evaluation visit. Accompanied by the Governor of South West Region, Bernard Okalia Bilai, the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako, Zang lll, the South West Regional Delegate for Basic Education, Njika Joseph and stakeholders in the educational sector, he launched the school year at the Government Primary School Buea Town on the theme "Closer Pedagogic Supervision for the Improvement of Quality Education".

The Secretary of State also visited the Government Practising Nursery School Buea Station, the Buea Islamic Complex Centre, the Catholic Primary School Mutengene, Kingston Bilingual Nursery and Primary School and Ecole Primaire Francophone Buea Station, among others. Mr. Ndong Soumhet urged the pupils to be hard working and attentive during class lectures.

During a working session, Mr. Ndong Soumhet expressed disappointment with some of the services as he went through some of the classes. Some blackboards were whitish, most teachers had not prepared their lessons, some teachers still teach using the detective approach rather than interactive method while Mathematics was also taught only by writing numbers on the board instead of using objects and illustrations. On difficulties facing the sector, the Secretary of State promised onward transmission to hierarchy for solutions.