Following the resumption of the third term of the 2020-2021 academic year across the national territory on April 12, Schools in Yaounde have stepped up sanitary measures put in place by the government to curb the spread of coronavirus in school milieu.
An overall evaluation shows that barrier measures are strictly respected in most schools in Yaounde.
At the Amasia Bilingual school complex located in the Yoaunde IV subdivision, students could be spotted on campus putting on their face masks and respecting social distancing.
This holds true for the Government Bilingual High School Ekounou, located in the same subdivision.
To the vice principal of the Amasia Bilingual High School, respecting barrier measures in his Institution is primordia.
“No student can access the campus without a face mask. We have water points everything on our campus. We oblige students and teachers to always put on their face while in class, and we have discipline masters who ensure this exercise is effective,” Homarou Faisal told News Upfront.
He further indicated that managing students in this time of covid-19 is very difficult.
“Students at times eat during break and forget to wear their masks. Flashing the students twice a day and making sure they wash their hands always is quite challenging. Most of them are still young and stubborn, so we need to be behind them constantly.” He said.
Most students have however gained consciousness about the existence of the pandemic, and do not take the risk of exposing themselves to it.
These students told News Upfront that they will barely forget their masks at home, or fail to respect the barrier measures.
In order to avoid the numerous sex scandals and violence scenes recorded by many schools across Cameroon last term, schools have equally tighten up security measures to make sure students study in a secured and serene atmosphere.
“We have about five section discipline masters in charge of each block. Surveillance cameras are implanted everywhere. As, such, everything happening on campus is previewed on the discipline masters computer right in his office. No student in Amasia pours water on another in the name of birthday. Otherwise, it is automatic dismiss. We don’t tolerate birthday parties where the students go grouping themselves and these acts came about. We thoroughly check our students at the gate every morning. When we pick a phone here, it is destroyed immediately. Students use phones to record these things and ignorantly send them to the internet. We keep educating them of these things. We have told them everything, including the magic purse,” the Dean of Studies of Amasia explained.
Given that this term is the most decisive of the 2020-2021 academic year, students have been reminded of the need to be more assiduous and resilience in studies, as it is a decisive term.
“Your parents have done their best, they have paid your fees, so the ball is in your court now. Please change! Leave your phones , leave music, sit down and read. We have intensified tutorials, and organize extra classes for you. The timetables will be distributed to you before Thursday, so everyone will be aware of the hours of extra classes,” Homarou Faisal told his students on Monday at the assembly ground.
The work is ever heavier for students in examination classes, as they are left with few weeks into the national exams. As such, they have taken new resolutions in line with their studies.
This is the case with Marvel Emenge Lesinge, and Fon Mcdonald, both upper sixth students at the Amasia Bilingual High School.
“It is time for me to decide whether to make it or mar. I’m really putting in my best since we are left with barely one month into the exams. I attend all my classes effectively, and study consistently as my timetable stipulates.” FON Mcdonald said.
This term runs from now to June, when students in intermediate will be going for their three months summer holidays while those in examination classes will be taking their exams.
