Elvis Tah
4 July 2008
The Ministry of Basic Education will soon begin to recruit Grade I teachers for the 2008/2009 academic year.
The recruitment is the third phase of the operation to employ 40,000 teachers within a period of five years.Sponsored by the World Bank and the French Development Agency, the operation was launched in 2007 and with end in 2011.
Unlike in the past when only teachers who must have taught for at least two years were eligible, anybody with a teachers' Grade I certificate is eligible for the recruitment.As part of the operation, a delegation from Yaounde held a meeting at GTTC Buea on Tuesday July 1, to sensitise Southwest education stakeholders, Divisional Delegates, inspectors and Grade I certificates holders, on the new procedures and requirements for the recruitment.
The head of the delegation, Eric Akemnda Achankeng, said "the teachers will provide certified copies of their professional diplomas: their Grade I certificates and other academic qualifications that make them eligible to get into the teachers' training college."
He said the North, Far North, Adamawa and the Eastern Provinces will be given the pride of place, for being education priority zones.He explained that the government wants to lay emphasis on the priority zones because the level of education is low due to lack of teachers in those areas.
Akemnda, erstwhile Director of Prospecting and Documentation at the Ministry of Basic Education, MINEDUB, said at the end of the operation in 2011, Cameroon would take the relay baton from its external partners to continue with the recruitment.
Expounding on a statement made by the Southwest Delegate of Basic Education, Joseph Njika, on a census to fish out absentee and ghost teachers, Akemnda said Cameroon is putting a lot of emphasis on the management of its personnel.
"It is important to know at every time whether the teachers sent to the field are actually there and at any one time a teacher is not found at his job post, his salary will be suspended."
In response to allegations that the news of the recruitment exercise was received with a pinch of salt in some quarters, Njika said he sees no reason why some people should not be happy about it, given that the condition of two years is suppressed and anybody with a Grade I certificates is eligible.
Meantime, some Grade I private teachers, who applied for the recruitment, expressed derision at their employer whom they say, usually thwarts the ambitions of her teachers.
They said she is a big shot at the Delegation of Basic Education and that she always gets rid of the files of her teachers whenever she is treating the applications before sending them to Yaounde.
The private teachers blamed the woman for paying her staff meagre salaries, but wouldn't allow them get to where the pastures are greener.It should be noted that the deadline for depositing complete files is July 4 at the various Divisional Delegation of Basic Education.
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Is not far from saying appreciation taken by the World bank to make this august gesture for teachers at the basic level in Cameroon.But it will make lots of sense if intentions are carried forward with genuineness.With no bias,no,marginalisation,no man to family relation,but let this be done in the strictness of merit,but may the consideration of those with special skills in the area of special education,putting emphases on those who can practice inclusive in the classroom for the interest of fellow Cameroonian be taken into consideration.I humbly solicit this ministry of basic education to take care of this. Thanks