Visionary Reports

Most of the Schools visited in Douala on October 5, 2020 were determined to keep Covid 19 at bay

Schools in the Littoral region like elsewhere in Cameroon open their doors on October 5, 2020 after they were forcefully shutdown by the government on March 17 in a bid to stop the spread of the Corona virus. In effect, the infections rate of the virus is not as high as before, consequently, the government of Cameroon ordered for schools to reopen their doors so that pupils and students can regain their classes. The schools were given firm instructions to put in place barrier measures to ensure that the education community is free from Covid 19.  Against this backdrop, students and pupils were spotted as early as 6: 30 am on October 5 heading to their different schools all with their face mask on.   School authorities on their part are not lying on their laurels as far as putting in place measures to ensure that their institutions are free from Covid 19.

Be it at College Liebermann and Lycee de JOSS in the Douala I sub division, Lycee de Mongo Joseph TSF, Ecole Arabe de New Bell in Douala II, GBHS Bobongo Petits Paris in Douala III, Lycee polyvalent de Bonaberi, College du levant Bonaberi in the Douala IV,   GBHS Logpom and College Modern Bilingue Bonamoussadi all in the Douala V subdivisions all measures were in place. From one school to the other there was at least a nurse at the gate to take the temperature of each student as well as visitors, all students and teachers in all classes had their masks on. Most schools had between 25- 40 students per class, all sitting in a zigzag format.

The principal of Lycee Mongo Joseph Mr. David Nduentongwa said they had buckets positioned at the entrance of each class for children to wash their hands, each class has sanitizers at the deposition of the teachers, He said they have progrommed classes in two shifts, while the first begin from 7:30am to 12:30 pm the next set begins from 1:30 – 5pm. Mr. David Nduentongwa said parents have been advised to give children food from home so as to avoid the crowded restaurants.

For the principal of Lycee polyvalent de Bonaberi Mr. Baga Tomtcha Flobert  nobody is allowed to into the school campus without a mask. He explained that they have a technical and industrial section of the school which produces masks and hand sanitizers. He said while advising parents to buy mask for their children, the school as offered two masks per child.  He added that after each lesson children are suppose to go out and wash their hands while adding that food venders around the school have been banned from selling food as parents have been advised to give children food from home.

While at Dauphine Nursery and Primary School Ndongbong, the Head Teacher Mr Ashu Ashu said  they have stopped both morning and afternoon assemblies  as  parents are advised to take  their children into their classes. He added that it was difficult for primary school children to wear mask reasons why they are very strict to ensure that pupils respect the one meter physical distancing. He said they have apportioned three teachers per class to ensure that children don’t touch each other. “There will be no breaks were pupils  have to go out and play, they will stay in their classes and eat  what they have brought from home. We have instructed the teachers to ensure that the pupils wash their hands after every fifteen minutes” Mr Ashu Ashu reiterated.

Meanwhile, the Regional Delegate of Secondary education for the littoral Edjang Njenji Guillaume all schools in the region were disinfected before children were allowed in school. He appreciated the measures put in place by most schools in the fight against the spread of Covid 19

 BY GINA ESONG