School attacks in Cameroon leave students' futures uncertain
Violence in Cameroon has disrupted education for millions. Students like Jane Ndamei face danger and displacement while pursuing their studies. The conflict between separatists and government forces continues to impact schools and families
In Cameroon‚ Jane Ndameiʼs pursuit of a medical career was almost cut short five years back. The then 15-year-old student was taking her Grade 12 exam when armed men stormed her school forcing everyone to run for their lives.
“It was the sound of death and I really thought I wouldnt make it. I prayed silently for a miracle‚“ she remembered
This incident is just one example of how violence has affected education in West and Central Africa. As of mid-2024‚ over 14000 schools were shut down due to unrest across 24 countries in the region. In Cameroon alone 1.4 million school-age kids need help with their education because of the separatist crisis in the west and Boko Haram attacks in the north.
The conflict started in 2017 when English-speaking separatists began fighting for independence from the French-speaking majority. Since then‚ it has caused over 6000 deaths and forced more than 760‚000 people to leave their homes. Separatist fighters have been targeting schools: killing and kidnapping students and teachers burning buildings and scaring families into keeping their kids out of school.
Hassane Hamadou‚ from the Norwegian Refugee Council‚ said: “The deliberate targeting of schools and the systemic denial of education because of conflict is nothing short of a catastrophe. Every day that a child is kept out of school is a day stolen from their future and from the future of their communities“
Ndamei was lucky enough to move to a safer French-speaking region and continue her studies. Sheʼs now in a university nursing program. However many of her classmates werent so fortunate:
- Some became young mothers
- Others couldnt find safe places to study
- Many families were displaced and struggled to provide education
Nelson Tabuweʼs story shows how the conflict has affected families. His three children (aged 10‚ 12‚ and 15) havenʼt been to school for almost seven years. They had to flee their hometown and now live in a cramped room in the capital‚ Yaounde. The kids who once dreamed of becoming engineers doctors and teachers now have to help their parents make money instead of studying
The ongoing crisis in Cameroon continues to rob children of their education and dreams leaving an uncertain future for the countryʼs youth
