Some 15
students of Government Bilingual High School ( GBHS) MISAJE, Donga-Mantung
Division of the North West Region have of recent been slammed an indefinite
suspension by the school’s Disciplinary Council that was unusually attended by
parents to these students.
Following a
succinct report presented to the parents and the council, where some prominent
clergymen were invited, the Principal, Mrs. Monica Nchuwa Yuki disclosed that
the said students had been caught in a web of gross indiscipline that destabilized
the smooth functioning of the school in the name of religion. She said some
senior students led by Divine Lukong Bongajum, Daniel Tatu and Cosmas Nfor (
Upper sixth students) had been derailing students especially students of junior
classes and causing them obstinate in what rather seemed occultism practices.
The
Principal who was corroborated by the Senior Master Of Discipline, Godlove
Ndoumba narrated that the concerned students had recorded notorious
absenteeism; gross insolence, and outright disrespect of teachers and members
of administration. “The students for the past few weeks had openly taunted the
school Rules and Regulations with dumfounding quotations from the Bible, a
situation that must be nibbed in the bud” exposed by the Principal.
The Senior
Master of Discipline, Mr. Godlove Ndoumba revealed that the outburst of the
unusual religious practices on campus was the several complains lodged by
parents on the sudden negative behavioural change in the children. He said, for
the past few days, parents had wept profusely in his office on the account of
this. He added that the students had transferred religious fanatism to school.
Then rose
Mrs. Roseline Ande, mother to one of the victims, Lista Ande. She revealed that
from birth her son had been too obedient and respectful until two weeks ago
that he suddenly became too obstinate. “he refuses to carry the ‘shaa’(cornbeer)
to the market as usual, describing me as evil and agent of the devil. He has
hardly been at home again on time;…” she could not conclude when she burst into
tears.
In the same
vein, the mother to another veronica Tata who had earlier on detained her
daughter and her leader Divine Lukong in the Misaje Gendarmarie, narrated the
same ordeal. She said, amidst tears, a lot of public humiliation from her
daughter who addressed her names. The said daughter had recently moved up to
the school administration and insolently told them she would no longer write
the GCE Ordinary Level she had registered because she frauded her birth
certificate. She told the Master of Discipline “ I can loose my education and
even my parents to gain salvation.”
Despite all
the counseling by the school administration, parents and the clergymen, the
students vowed to stick to their new found religion. The students were said to
have been practicing all these under some three different sects: the Christian
Missionary Fellowship International (CMFI); Deeper
Life Church
and Full Gospel Church ,
all new arrivals in Misaje town.
What was
disturbing was that their behaviours were far different from those of the
followers of the above sects elsewhere. Also surprising to the school administration
was that for over two weeks hullabaloo with the students and parents, with some
of the parents attacking believers in their churches to rescue their chidren,
none of the churches’ leaders or Evangelists came to school to find pout the
situation. It is suspected that the leaders used hypnotic means on the
children.
So, quoting
article 19/3 of the school rules and regulations that sanctions insolence
disobedience to parents and school authorities; occultism and other
intoxicating religion in school, and relating to a sometime ministerial text
barring unhealthy religious worships in schools, the council adopted the indefinite
suspension of the 15 students to spare the rest of the students. Equally, some
parents openly denounced their children, promising to officially surrender
their children to the various church authorities to continue with their
education and welfare.
Meanwhile,
the D.O for Misaje to see the end especially as public peace is threatened. In
a follow-up meeting on Saturday, 23rd March, 2013, the D.O cautioned
the men of God to ensure that their religions advocated peace rather incite
troubles in homes. He insisted that parents had the right and control over
their children until when they are independent. Although the Principal and her
collaborators stood their grounds, the men of God were given the opportunity to
go and reconcile the children with their parents before pleading with the
school to reverse the decision.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa
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