Mayhem at GBHS Nkambe as Students Go on Strike

 NGEH Lorater

An atmosphere of uncertainties, fears and stale familiarity looms high at Government Bilingual High School Nkambe in Donga Mantung Division of the North West Region. While secondary and high school students nationwide are preparing for the practical part of the General Certificate of Education that kick-start this week, the students of GBHS Nkambe abandoned classes to move into the street today May 6, 2013. The students are reported to have stormed the offices of the Divisional Delegate for Secondary Education and the Senior Divisional Officer to express their worries. Sources confirmed that the students stormed the Divisional Delegation of Secondary Education and later the office of the Senior Divisional officer demanding for the reimbursement of Computer fees of FCFA 3000 each reasons being that they paid the money for computer classes but as the year is ending; some of them have never had an effective computer class. According to what we gathered the students stormed the SDO’s office claiming that they have no Geology teacher, yet had each disbursed a sum of FCFA 5000 each for laboratory tests. Besides, students of the Upper Sixth, we learnt are also crying that as the days approaches for the practical GCE, they have not been able to enter into the lab for lack of gas and chemicals whereas each of them is alleged to have paid FCFA 5000 each to the school administration. They also told the SDO that some of them contributed a widow’s mite for a condolence visit to one of their mates who kicked the pocket, yet the administration has been adamant to carryout the visit.  

Even though the Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung Division, Ngone Ndodemesape tried to clam down flaring tempters, the students we gathered have vowed that if the administration doesn’t take stringent measures, there is going to be a rundown. However, the SDO, we gathered told them to go back to school and their worries will be looked into as soon as possible. Notwithstanding, all attempts to get the Principal of GBHS Nkambe could not yield any fruits. When contacted on phone, the Divisional Delegate for Secondary Education, Njobe Cletus confirmed that truly there was uproar at GBHS Nkambe. He also confirmed the claims tabled by the striking students and added that the hierarchy is aware. The Eye is aware as well that there’s the sparkling spark that has ignited the long accumulated grievances of the students. However, suspicions and alerts abound that GBHS Nkambe may sink into the doldrums any moment, anytime as one of the striking students is alleged to have commented. The most serious threat, we learnt is that if measures are not taken, the school could easily be transformed into a sinkhole for character assassination where teachers pay like Apes for Nuts.

It is aired that the students after the assembly started singing and shouting that the want their money back. Some students we gathered removed the flag that was hoisted. The school administration we gathered was helpless and only begged for the flag to be handed back. This act by students of the Upper Sixth caught the attention of some students of the lower classes who also joined them in the strike. It is alleged some students who were writing the end of year examination were caught by the web and had to miss their examination papers today. Yet, it is alleged that the students have vowed that if the money is not reimbursed, no GCE practical would take place at GBHS Nkambe this year.


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