HOT POTATOES

By Amindeh Blaise Atabong 

Of teachers who find comfort in students’ laps

Teaching undoubtedly is a noble profession and every teacher has the responsibility of dishing out knowledge in a holistic manner, so that Cameroon can boost of scholars genuinely worthy in both character and learning.

However, one has realised with regret that despite better efforts by education authorities to put order and sanity in the education milieu, it is still unarguably evident that there still exist vices ranging from vehement absenteeism by teachers, corruption, and sexually transmitted marks syndrome amongst others. These practices are probably exercised by persons who are frustrated with an ill-focussed government or have misfired in their career and have found themselves in the teaching profession of honour and dignity as a last resort.

This is in the likes of this highly praised English language teacher of a school fondly called “jungle” in Kumba, who for the past years has been sexually intimidating this rather unquestionably innocent female student, Hostensia (other names withheld).

Hostensia, 17, revealed that, this unexpected and forceful relationship with her teacher had its genesis when she was still in Form Three. The teacher (whose name I choose to keep undisclosed) had given every student the impression that poor Hostensia was his daughter and their intimacy was clear proof of the expression of parental love. Hostensia, in her euphoric comportment had little knowledge that her English teacher whom she held in high esteem, in his late 30s, had a hidden agenda.

She further disclosed that Mr. Teacher, married and father of two had been giving her money during break and equally bought her a Graded English textbook. As if not enough, he paid for her second term holiday classes even without her consent.

When little Hostensia got to Form five after attaining the state of maturity with her “coca-cola bottle” shaped buttocks and attractive breast, the English teacher could no longer bear his enormous and exceedingly huge insatiable desire for girls worth his biological daughter’s age.

After several vain attempts to let Hostensia succumb to his advances, he unjustifiably suspended Hostensia from his classes on grounds of insolence. Helpless Hostensia in the midst of hectic preparations ahead of her GCE Ordinary Level exams could not report the matter to school authorities because such an action would have cause her instantaneous dismissal, for the teacher in question is an influential member of the school disciplinary council. Hostensia was brilliant enough to pass the GCE but failed in English Language.

Hostensia’s success in evading was temporal, for the teacher did not intend to commune in the agony of his failure forever. His determination to carry out a perverse deed was still enshrined in absolute perpetuity.

Vulnerable Hostensia had only dodged the “wahala” for a while but not her pursuer. When she came into Lower Sixth in the same school, it was still the wanton teacher who was to teach English in Literature. Frustrated and under serious intimidation, she finally gave in to Mr. Teacher’s proposal during a rendezvous at the teacher’s domicile.

I was opportune; don’t ask me how, to confirm that Mr. Teacher was on the verge of raping Hostensia in one renowned hotel, only to find out that she was on menstruation. She was fortunate enough that day.

This is just one case among the so many ugly and painful experiences where unscrupulous teachers do impious acts unperturbed. Only God knows how many students have fallen prey to him and his cohorts in crime!

I wonder what these set of teachers have in the back of their minds when they find solace in the laps of their very own students which they teach!

While school administrators put in colossal efforts to maintain a morally acceptable teacher-student relationship, the “bad guys” spend precious duty time doing the contrary.

Teachers with uncontrollable sexual urge, leave our uncorrupted, decent and pure little girls alone!