Some 31 internally Displaced persons in Government Bilingual High School Atiela risk not sitting the 2023 GCE O and A Levels.
The students who are currently fleeing from the armed conflict say their parents cannot afford monies to pay for their registration because they lost everything back home.
While some are hopeful that goodwill donors will come their way, those of Upper sixth science say at least one student has abandoned his studies because of lack of funds.
Secretary No 1 (left), Principal (middle) and Commissioner for Economic Development (right)
Rinwi Mark, one of the students who fled the conflict from Nwa recoubted that; "I came into Bamenda from Nwa in the Donga Mantung Division.
"When the crisis was very hot over there, we had to escape with some of my uncles to Bamenda. When we arrived Bamenda, we were staying in Bambili and everyone was sleeping on the floor.
"We were trying to cope until one day, the separatist fighters burnt the car of my father. Since then, it has become very difficult for us to feed. I had to look for a way to go back-to-school.
"I'm currently staying at a friend's house close to this school. He helps me with food from time to time because he is working. I also go around and clean people's houses just to survive."
The 11 beneficiaries with their GCE registration forms
Another student, Karana Titus from Esu in Mechum Division had to run away from the crisis and settle in Douala.
He says he hails from a family of 27 and the crisis brought untold suffering to his father who could no longer manage the big family.
"I left with my brother to Douala during the peak of this crisis and I was in form 4. After staying in Douala for sometime, I decided to come back to Bamenda and write the Ordinary level.
" So I wrote in 2021 and passed. This 2023, I'm supposed to write the Advance level. But since I'm doing the sciences, the small jobs of building and working on construction sites cannot be possible.
"We have classes even on Sundays making it very difficult for me to survive. They're days I go without anything to eat and I depend mostly on soaked garri."
Another student, Blessing, still from Menchum Division has to forgo her classes to sell koki just so she can take care of her five siblings living with her at home.
She narrated that her father's leg was struck with a strange illness and since then, he could not do anything to help them.
After registering, the students came to say thank you
Her mother, a peasant farmer could not sustain the family. In their quest for quality education, they had to settle in Bamenda where she does this petite business to survive.
While these three had their GCE Advance level paid in full by some members of the North West Regional Assembly, 8 others also benefitted and most of them are doing the sciences.
The principal of the school, Benyella Godwin Tafoang received 31 others who could barely register. The principal says students troop into his office everyday pleading for assistance just to study.
Reasons why he wrote to the Regional Assembly pleading that help should be extended to some students of the school.
"Nkwen is relatively peaceful and most IDPs who leave Boyo, Ngoketunjia, Bui, Menchum and Donga Mantung, settle in Nkwen. And this is the only Government Secondary School in the heart of the village. That is why the number of IDPs here are many.
"Our hope is to help them write and pass the GCE. We hope that other good will Cameroonians will come to the aid of this 31 students as the dateline to close the registration approaches." Benyella told the Observer.
In appreciation, the 11 beneficiaries thanked the North West Regional Assembly for paying in full their practical fees, registration and registration per subject, promising to deliver good results when the GCE is out.
Championed by the President of the Assembly, Prof Fru Angwafo III, the Delegation was led by Ghejung Awunti, Commissioner for Economic Development and Kalak Flavius, Secretary Number 1 at the House.
They both encouraged the students to be steadfast in their quest for education and never relent in the process.
"We are really touched by the stories we have heard. Our hope and vision is to give a better future to these kids. We wish them well in their studies and hope this relieve package will make them to concentrate better." Ghejung told the Observer.
While hoping that something urgent will be done to salvage the other 31 still waiting, an envelope of 396,000 francs was handed to the school for the 11 students who were more in need.
The principal notes that will a little over one million, the situation can be conveniently handled.
By
Ndi Tsembom Elvis
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