10 literacy centres to be constructed in North West

The North West Regional Delegate for Basic Education, Fon Nyangha Susan Tata, has announced plans to construct 10 pioneer literacy centres in the region. She spoke in Kumbo, Bui Division recently at an event to mark International Literacy Day organised by the charity, Nascent Solutions. Fon Nyangha Susan said the objective was to ensure that by 2035, every Cameroonian, whether young or old, acquires basic literacy and numeracy skills to enable them function effectively in an emergent nation.

She commended Nascent Solutions for promoting literacy in partnership with the Regional Delegation of Basic Education. Citing statistics from UNESCO, Fon Nyangha Susan said over 781 million adults were still illiterate worldwide, with two-thirds being women. The Regional Delegate of Basic Education appealed to adult men and women who have not yet enrolled in literacy classes to do so and for parents to send their children to school.

According to the Assistant Country Director of Nascent Solutions for Cameroon, Ndamo Chrispus, literacy is a human right and a means of maintaining peace, promoting democracy, eradicating poverty, achieving gender equality as well as ensuring sustainable development. Also speaking at the event, the Senior Divisional Officer for Bui, Nzeki Theophile, regretted that 35 per cent of Cameroonians were still illiterate. He said an illiterate person is like a blind man while a literate person is like light that casts away darkness.

The Bui Divisional Delegate of Basic Education, Angwafor Clement Mankefo, said functional literacy has come to completely eradicate illiteracy and prevent hatred, ignorance, foolishness, isolation, under-development and to foster collective development. He disclosed that Bui Division has 32 functional literacy centres managed by 45 instructors with an enrolment of 887 learners. He added that Lamnso, Oku and Noni languages were also being promoted.