Parents pay 190 million Bui gov't school teachers’ salaries

Against the backdrop of want of teachers in government schools in Bui Division, North West Region, Asah William Mbenkum, Bui Divisional Delegate of Secondary Education, has disclosed that parents of students in some 68 government owned schools, doled out 190,080,964 FCFA to pay the stipends of some 839 teachers.

Asah made the disclosure recently during the official launch of the 2015/2016 academic year in Bui. The school year has been pegged on the theme: “Professionalization of teaching for the education of citizens capable of sustaining growth.”

According to the delegate, while 190,080,964 FCFA of some 402,585,833 FCFA was spent on teachers, the rest was used to ameliorate the structural conditions of the government schools.

A Bui elite who elected anonymity frowned at the fact that government creates schools but is unable to equip and staff them just to receive accolades from political sycophants.

For his part, Nfon Tayen Nfii II, Principal of GHS Lafele Djottin cum traditional ruler of Djottin said despite the poor staffing situation in his establishment, students of GHS Lafele Djottin struggled and recorded a 100% pass at the GCE Advanced Level last year.

Observing that Parent Teacher Associations are a vital force for the survival of government schools, Nzeki Theophile, SDO for Bui, called on principals and PTA presidents to respect PTA texts in force. He warned that those found wanting in the management of PTA funds will be made to face justice.

We gathered that this academic year in Bui registered an enrollment of 34,528 students. Last year, the division had 102 colleges; 75 public and 27 lay private, as against a total of 104 colleges this school year.

A school administrator told The Cameroon Journal that the recommended fee stands at 7,500 FCFA, but this amount is usually swelled by exorbitant PTA levies, computer fee, medical fee, amongst others.