Illiteracy, bane of today’s society

It is said that if one thinks education is expensive let the person try ignorance.

Illiteracy is one of the fundamental aspects affecting the society. Illiteracy is the inability to read or write.

In spite of the fact that Cameroon has one of the highest literacy rates on the African continent, the country still counts a large number of illiterates, making nonsense of Government policy to make education cheap.

In order to be an emerging Nation by 2035, efforts have been made to ensure that illiteracy is eradicated.

Despite the availability of schools all over the national territory, there are some people in some suburbs who do not go to school.

EposiMwende, Divisional Secretary at the Regional Delegation of Basic Educationsaid;“Illiteracy still exists, especially in fishing ports around the borders. In these areas, one will still find individuals who can barely identify the four walls of the classroom and can barely know the letters of the alphabet.”

Another worker in the Delegation, who opted for anonymity, stated that the Government has tried to make sure that Cameroonian citizens acquire free education since Government schools are less expensive in Cameroon.

He posited that the Government should setup a mechanism system such as follow-up committees and police stations, especially in places where such cases of illiteracy exist, so that parents will be prompted to send their children to school and, in case of any resistance, they should be arrested and detained.

Statistics from the Ministry of Basic Education for the 2014 show that 25,954 candidates registered for the First School Living Certificate; 25,816 sat for the exam while 24,921 passed giving a percentage pass of 96.53.

In the year 2015, 27501registered,27,301 sat and 26,165 passed given a percentage scored of 96.86. For Certificate D’Etude Premieres 2014 examination 872 registered,850 sat,832 passed given a percentage of 97.88.In the year 2015 875 registered ,862 sat,843 passed given percentage 97.80.

Paul Lyonga, serving with the Gendarmerie in Buea, testified that he stopped schooling in Class Seven because his parents were unable to continue paying for his education.

After staying at home for three years,he joined the National Gendarmerie force. He advised that parents should send their children to school and the children, who have the opportunity to go to school, should study hard to build their future.

An illiterate person, living in Muyuka, who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “I have never been to school.I have lived as a farmer all my life. And since the death of my parents, I have been working on the farms they left behind. To tell you the truth, illiteracy, though it is notaffecting me financially because I earn millions during the cocoa season, it is a bad thing. I can’t read or write and this affects me in terms of the savings I make at the bank, with all the money I have, I still feel empty because of lack of education. ”

Dolphin Leke, also recounted her ordeal.“I did not have the opportunity to be educated because my parents could not afford the expenses. They left me with no choice than to get married,my husband died living me with two boys to take care of. It was very challenging since I had nothing doing except hawking and cleaning people’s homes. This could barely take care of my kids’ needs and education, but I keep on working hard to see that my children do not become like me. Parents should struggle, no matter their situation, to see that their children attain a certain level of education.”