Prison minors receive didactic materials

The Literacy Centre in the Central Prison of Douala officially reopened September 20.

Various school materials needed in elementary studies for knowledge in functional alphabetisation were donated to minors in the Douala Central Prison. The minors undertaking the literacy programme received the donation by the Humanitarian Social Charity (Chasoh), a locally-based humanitarian association during a solemn reopening in the Prison on September 20, with the support of the Regional Delegation of Basic Education.

The main objective of the programme is to allow all to fully exercise their role as citizens in all dimensions, like access to the job market, while assisting in the education of children and their participation in a democratic life, social engagement, etc.

According to the instructor of the programme, the course is taught alongside vocations like plastic art as a way to reduce poverty. Study of the written code, arithmetic, and elementary computer skills, is necessary as a means to acquire basic knowledge and ability needed by all in a rapidly evolving world as ours today. "It constitutes a fundamental right of every person," the Director of the Centre who doubles as President of Chasoh, Magné Tagne Tapia, pointed out.

The functional literacy programme, modelled on indications by the Penitentiary Administration under the coordination of authorities in charge of Functional Literacy in Douala, targets the illiterate minor and minors who incidentally interrupted their curriculum because of incarceration. Implementing functional literacy in prisons, however, remains a difficult but rich business experience, which requires both a special education and high human qualities that predispose a love of neighbour.

For the past 3 years, 200 children have benefitted from the offer, including 50 prison minors.

"The programme plays a very important role in helping Cameroonians to be able to read, write and be integrated into the society," Littoral's Regional Delegate of Basic Education, Essame Elise Henriette, pointed out during the solemn reopening ceremony.