Back to school: panic in the Anglophone Regions; OTS threat
Back to school: panic in the Anglophone Regions; OTS threat
The back-to-school season officially kicks off on Monday, September 5. The Minister of Secondary Education, Pauline Nalova Lyonga set the tone for the start of the 2022-2023 school year.
This new school year is announced against a backdrop of crises. The OTS movement threatens on one side and the Ambazonians on the other side.
Paul Biya’s minister urged parents of students and the educational body to “transform difficulties into opportunities”.
For this return to school, the separatists have unveiled a series of measures in the English-speaking regions of the North-West and South-West.
Mark Bareta, close to several Amabazonian groups and leaders, made the announcements in a post on his Twitter account. It clearly indicates that separatist fighters oppose the resumption of classes in NOSO as planned by the Cameroonian government.
“Resumption of classes: Ambazonia forces, in a circulating video, have stipulated that the resumption of schools this year will only start from October 4, 2022. No schools are to open in September. The fighters have maintained that all schools can resume EXCEPT government schools,” Mark Bareta wrote on his account.
“The fighters insisted that the national anthem of Cameroon should not be sung in schools, that students should not wear uniforms, that the French language should not be taught in any form either in the schools of Amba”, explained the activist.
Back to school: big threat from OTS on Etoudi; Paul Biya arrested urgently
Back to school in Cameroon is in a few days. Unfortunately, a big threat hangs over the Cameroonian education system.
The Ambazonians threaten on the one hand and the actors of the OTS movement on the other. Indeed, the return to school risks being tainted by the mood of the teachers.
The OTS (We Too Supported) movement of the OTA (We Too Expected) collective and the Cameroon Teachers’ Union for Africa (SECA) does not let go.
The movement announces the strike in the coming days. Here is the official note.
Dear Colleagues,
Comrades.
As of August 16, 2022, we, the Teachers under the Ministry of Secondary Education (MINESEC), united under the joint banner of the On a Trop Supporté (OTS) Movement, the On a Trop Attendu (OTA) collective and the Union of Teachers of Cameroon for Africa (SECA), have notified the Prime Minister, Head of Government and Madam Minister of Secondary Education of a strike notice that may possibly take effect on August 31, 2022, the date of the return of teaching staff under the MINESEC.
A meeting followed, in accordance with letter No. 1657/221/MINESEC/SG DESG from the Minister of Secondary Education addressed to all heads of teachers’ unions SC SYNDICAT DES TEACHERS CAMEROUNAIS POUR L’
In view of the oblivion of the legitimate and legal claims made by the Teachers, the refusal of the Government to apply the high instructions of the Head of State, and the flagrant desire to stifle the OTS-OTA-SECA groups (representatives truly the Teachers) by the Government (which claims to have solved 95% of the Teachers’ demands) and its satellite unions, we the Teachers under the Ministry of Secondary Education (MINESEC), united under the joint banner of the On a Too Supported Movement ( OTS), the collective On a Trop Attendu (OTA) and the Union of Teachers of Cameroon for Africa (SECA), by this press release, announce to the national and international community, as well as to all the
Educational Community of the immediate taking effect from August 31, 2022 of the strike slogan. Dear Comrades and Colleagues, the course of action for this first phase of the strike, which could
possibly be renewed each week, is as follows: (1) Take up/Resume service at your position of affection or service;
(2) Attend the first trimester teaching council in the department relating to the
discipline being taught;
(3) Attend the first quarter General Assembly (statutory meeting);
(4) Be present at his duty station during his work period: (5) For the period from September 05 to September 09, 2022, refrain from any educational activity or any other activity not mentioned in points (1) , (2), (3) and (4) above.
Any possible suspension of the strike will be preceded by the consideration and resolution of at
least five (05) main demands: automation of Teachers’ career acts with financial effect, full payment of Teachers’ debt, signature and application the special status of Teachers and an acceptable resolution timeline for other claims. Through this action, we reiterate our patriotism and once again reassure our will and our openness to a healthy dialogue.
