As of Monday, schools in Cameroon reopened despite the deteriorating situation amid the corona pandemic.
Critics raised concerns claiming their government had reinstated weak restrictions. They believed the measures would not fully combat the virus.
Cameroon State of affairs
Cameroon is the first central African state to record a positive corona case with the virus thriving daily. As of now, over 6100 people have tested positive for it. The mortality rate is currently at 197.
Final year students resumed learning following an announcement by the ministry of education. The measures the schools executed to combat the virus included; wearing masks, washing hands, maintaining social distancing, etc.
In every class, some fewer students sat far from each other and covered in masks. At the e3ntrance of every classroom, there was a bucket of clean water for hand-washing.
The principle of Abang Nkongoa, a public school in Yaoundé, was interviewed by AFP earlier this week. She stated that lower grade learners would report as of Thursday.
Only candidates in primary and secondary schools would resume learning as they awaited their final-year exam. However, all universities would also reopen right from the first years.
There was an uproar of concerns from parents and teachers on the learner’s health after Prime Minister Joseph Dion affirmed the reopening of learning institutions.
During a press briefing, the unions also raised complaints challenging the health restrictions the government imposed on schools. They claimed the conditions were not adequate; hence were certain the learners were at risk of contracting the novel disease.
Government response to COVID-19
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the government of Cameroon’s response has been lame. When they confirmed the first corona patient, they imposed no restriction. This is compared to other African states.
Learning institutions were closed two weeks after they recorded the first case.
Opposition leaders challenge the government’s weak response and blame them for risking the health of Cameroonians. The government has to employ more restrictions since the country has a total of 25 million people.
Failure to imposing any Draconian measure letting citizens room free in the streets of Yaoundé was never a wise idea.
More:
