PROMOTION OF QUALITY EDUCATION
Infrastructure and Business Incubators in Schools under Scrutiny
7 schools in the Mfoundi Division hosted top officials of the Ministry of Secondary Education (MINESEC) concerned about the teaching conditions of learners.
The Minister of Secondary Education, Prof Nalova Lyonga, in the company of Boniface Bayaola, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Secondary Education in charge of Teachers’ Training (SEESEN), toured 7 schools in Yaounde, on Monday, 20 March 2023. This was to appraise the construction of school infrastructure and check the effective operation of business incubators in some schools.
School infrastructure are key in achieving quality education. It is in this context that officials of MINESEC undertook a visit to review major school infrastructure projects underway in Vocational Secondary School Ekounou, Government Bilingual Technical College Mewoulou and Government Bilingual High School Nyom. In each site, the Minister and her delegation enquired about the execution rate of works and gave clear recommendations, including full compliance with contract specifications.
The ministerial delegation made a stopover at Government High School Elig-Essono where 6 classrooms get flooded whenever rain falls, owing to the obstruction of the existing waterways. Consultation between local residents and officials of both the Ministry of Secondary Education and the Ministry of State Property and Land Tenure is envisaged to end this predicament.
Government Secondary School Mendong offered a brighter image with its completed G+1 building, comprising 8 classrooms, offices and well specified toilets for girls and boys.
At Government Bilingual High School Essos, the Minister was satisfied with the playground which was refurbished to promote safe and professional sport practice. Upon completion, this sport complex will be scalable into 1 handball court, 2 volleyball and basketball courts and 1 lawn tennis court.
With increasing emphasis being laid on imparting knowledge and job-ready skills in students, business incubators are functional in Government Bilingual Technical College Mewoulou and Government Technical High School Ekounou; this aims to provide learners with hands-on training in Home Economics as well as Boiler and Industrial Piping respectively.
At GBTC Mewoulou, Prof Nalova Lyonga advised students to always observe hygiene and sanitation measures in handling foodstuffs destined for human consumption. She equally urged the principal of the school to train learners in book-keeping, so as to equip them with accountability skills necessary for their future professional success.
At GTHS Ekounou, students made and displayed iron-cast products, including gates, bannisters, curtain holders, ovens, barbecues and benches. After appraising the products, the Minister urged teachers to train learners in a way that they will be able to face the stiff competition in the job market. As such, learners must be encouraged to improve finishes and use quality materials.
The assessment visit which started in the Centre Region will be extended to the South and Littoral Regions.
Aimé Ngidjol
Senior Staff/CELCOM