SW governor humiliates award-winning artist on Teachers’ Day

 From Che Bruno Azenyui in Buea

South West governor, Bernard Okalia Biliai has described as unworthy of emulation, the dressing pattern of an award-winning artist in the South West region - Emmanuel Kimbi.

In a strongly worded message addressed through his adviser, Forju Bernard, the governor described the dressing of the artist’s dancers as an indication of declining moral values.

The reaction followed a live performance by the artist in which one of his dancers under the governor’s watchful eyes lowered the trousers of a class four pupil who is a member of  Kimbi’s dance crew.
“...Amongst your dancers, we have not only a youth but a kid. She arrived at this ceremonial ground properly dressed. All of us witnessed with some laughing and clapping but also with indignation how a youth bent down and lowered her trousers. His Excellency the governor of the South West region wants to underscore in very strong terms that this does not represent our cultural values. It is not a promotion of the youth who are the leaders of tomorrow nor is it an elevation of those who will be the model. When we rejoice and clap, what message do we want this kid to take home?  Is it a good thing to have a child lower his trousers in public?  His Excellency the governor, guarantor of moral values and personal representative of the head of state cannot be called to witness this type of shameful attitude with indifference. He therefore asks you Mr. Musician and all those who initiate cultural performances not to corrupt our kids when you come out for your performances,” Okalia’s adviser warned.

Kimbi Emmanuel, worthy of mention, is a South West-based artist and teacher. He is known to have won many awards in music including the best musician award of one of Cameroon’s brewery companies. His song during this year’s World Teachers’ Day at the Bongo Square ceremonial ground had as title: ‘Cameroon Na Helele’.

Teachers’ day in Buea
Meanwhile, in an address on the occasion, the president of the Buea Area Teachers’ Association (BATA), Moki Vainde Liwonjo lamented on the deplorable working conditions of teachers in Cameroon.

According to Moki, despite the numerous sacrifices that teachers put into their profession, very little is being done to give them their deserved motivation.
“Education in Cameroon continues to suffer in the hands of unpatriotic citizens. What can account for the fact that schools are created for over twenty years and have no single government constructed classroom? Basic education is fast becoming a ministry for contract teachers as 70% of the teachers go with this appellation. Running credits are near insignificant. The long awaited implementation of the teachers’ status remains a call for concern. There is late arrival of minimum packages for teachers and the lack of service vehicles in educational services as obtainable in other ministries. Insufficient research allowances for the teaching core as well as the absence of proper research means the absence of meaningful teaching,” he lamented.

He also decried the exploitation of private teachers by unscrupulous school proprietors and the suspension of teaching post allowances of some teachers without anyone offering an explanation. “This may make us think that sooner or later, other deserved allowances reserved for teachers may be scrapped.”
Reacting to the complaints of the teachers, Okalia Biliai assured the teachers of government’s commitment to their wellbeing.
The governor stated: “The theme of this year’s teachers’ day ‘invest in the future, invest in teachers’ is a veritable testimony of the invaluable role the teachers play in shaping the country. It is also an opportunity for you to acknowledge and be more sensitive to the enormous investment the nation is making to improve in the quality of and number of teachers in Cameroon.”He also urged teachers to stay loyal to their ethical values as guarantors of equity and a source of hope to all learners.

For his part, the South West regional delegate of secondary education, Francis Ngudu attributed the desertion syndrome in society to their despicable working conditions. He regretted the fact that despite their position as the salt of the earth, many teachers still drag the dignity of their profession into the mud; manifestation of low morals, occult practices, examination malpractice, mercenary teachers’ clandestine schools and other shameful practices are still recurrent within our academic circles.

World Teachers’ Day, it should be said, was instituted way back in 1994 by UNESCO following an appraisal of the situation of teachers the world over. It was in response to the sharp decline in teaching standards, the consequence of which was the desertion of the classroom by teachers for more lucrative and better recognized jobs.