The Senior Divisional Officer made the clarion call during a two-in-one ceremony in Misaje where he presided over the launching of the Second Phase of Donga Mantung Scholarship Fund and the handing over of Government Humanitarian Aid to students and pupils. Addressing education stakeholders, teachers, parents, students and pupils, the SDO for Donga Mantung, Nkwenti Simon Doh urged the population to go to the dialogue table with hopes so that peace can return to the North West and South West Regions. He lauded the population of Misaje as well as Nkambe central with respect to the respect of state institutions. Donga Mantung SDO went further to reiterate the fact that dialogue is important. He continued by assuring the population that Government Humanitarian Aid for the Division was on hand and that after the launching, the distribution of government humanitarian aid shall proceed to other sub divisions. He also called on parents to send their kids to school because “education is the key of the future”. He commended government efforts in providing aid to the needy population as well as the efforts by H.E. Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry to support and promote education in Donga Mantung Division. “We thought we were coming to celebrate with students and pupils but it turned out to be a feast with the entire population”, as he thanked the population for the massive turn out. He expressed gratitude to Minister Fuh Calistus for extending a hand of fellowship especially to the victims of the socio-political crisis in the North West and South West Regions who coincidentally are from beyond Misaje and majority being internally displaced. Besides, Mr. Nkwenti Simon Doh also commended Dr. Fuh Calistus for raising the fund from FCFA 15 million to FCFA 18 million.
Enter Council Mgbata Sammy Nforkemba, Mayor of Misaje Council
In his welcome speech the mayor of Misaje council congratulated the population for the massive turn out and emphasized that education is paramount, reasons why they all came out in their numbers to confirm the fact that education is number one priority in their muniiicipality. Harping on the importance of education, councilor Mgbata Sammy Nforkemba gave a standing ovation to Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry for “his incessant lobby for the state to create and construct nursery, primary, secondary and high schools in all the localities deserving these institutions” and for making sure that he buttresses these structures through the provision of scholarships. He further congratulated the population of the division for their wise decisions and choices they have made to send children to school. On the crisis in the North West and South West Regions, the mayor of Misaje continued that “for we acknowledge the existence of Anglophone problems, but disagree on the usage of violence to solve the problem”. He argued that Cameroon never gained Bakassi because “we were more powerful at war than Nigeria, but by diplomacy and arbitration. “We believe that after all wars, no matter how long they may last, the final and inevitable end is sitting on the table for a peaceful management of the courses of the conflicts”. He advised that those who have not sent their kids should do so because by keeping them at home they may want their kids to be future agents of devastation, slaves of children whose parents have carried them to study abroad and or disabled because they were given guns, with neither training nor mature age. Mgbata Sammy concluded by thanking the population Donga Mantung for their position which is fidelity to state institutions and the resolution of conflict through dialogue.
On his part, the coordinator of the Donga Mantung Scholarship Fund, Tarlishi Oliver Yinyu said the distribution of scholarships to other Sub Divisions shall continue in the coming days. He called on the beneficiaries to use the money for the purpose that it is intended. He also prescribed duty consciousness to the lucky teachers who will be paid by the scholarship fund.
150 Pupils, Students Benefit from Government Humanitarian Aid
90 pupils and 60 students were the immediate beneficiaries of Government Humanitarian aid made up of school bags and other didactic materials. The beneficiaries who were drawn from all the schools in Misaje Sub Division each went home happier than when they were coming. One of the beneficiaries, Ismaila Abdu said that the glorious gesture will go a long way to encourage him study well. “I thank the government for thinking about us during this very difficult moment and I also thank Minister Fuh Calistus for paying my school fees”, he concluded. It should be recalled that the beneficiaries were selected from the 12 villages. it is worth mentioning the 150 beneficiaries will in the days ahead also receive some additional funds to enable them pay schools fees, this money shall be disbursed by the Divisional Officer for Misaje Sub Division.
24 PTA Teachers, Victims of Crisis Benefit from Scholarship
For the primary schools, 12 PTA teachers were recruited from each of the villages that make up Misaje Sub Division. Tarlishi Oliver says the teachers will teach in the various schools and will be paid from the scholarship fund for a period of 3 months. However, for the secondary schools, GBHS Misaje and GHS Chunghe were exceptionally given two teachers while all the other secondary school had one teacher each. All together, 12 secondary school teachers were recruited. Harping on the salaries of the teachers, Tarshi Oliver revealed that secondary school teachers will earn FCFA 40.000 while primary school teachers will earn FCFA 25.000 per month.
Six pupils and students who lost one or both parents during the crisis were also given handed funds to enable them go to school. Secondary school students had FCFA 30.000 while primary school pupils had FCFA 20.000
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
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