The ongoing Anglophone crisis in the NW/SW region of Cameroon has brought a wave of destruction and despair that is wearing and tearing our education. The implementation of continuous lockdowns, known as “Ghost Towns,” in the restive regions of the country has a striking impact on our education. This results in incomplete syllables in schools, forcing students and pupils to hide before going to school, burn down of state-owned institutions leading to a relatively high cost of education. Monday 21st November 2016, I am in school, suddenly the campus was deserted, and I start struggling to find myself home in uniforms unknowingly that children are not supposed to be in school that day. A man sees me and says “Why are you in uniforms do you want to get shot?”. I am terrified. Immediately I hear there’s a protest going on with bullets flying all around, “tear gas” as I am trying to get to my change my uniform.

At this point, I am trying to get a taxi, but no one is willing to take me home. I have to trekk from City Chemist till mobile not knowing what can happen to me along the way. I get home with fear and trembling of what I heard and saw. From there, my education is put on hold for a while.

Let’s forward to about 3 months after, I am back to school because I am in an examination class preparing to write the GCE with little or insufficient material due to the crisis. For the first time, I experienced what failure is all about when the results are published. With tears, frustration, and disappointment I received my slip with 3C’s, 3D’s. But all hope is not lost for me. This is my story what more about others who left education and consider marriage, guns, robbery, drugs, and many others???

However, there is hope when we come together as a community and put an end to the Anglophone crisis. We must stop advocating for ghost towns that reduce study time and shut down billions in the economic sector. Education is the key to empowerment, and every child deserves the opportunity to learn and grow in a safe environment.

Put an end to the Anglophone crisis, put an end to the burning down of schools, and let’s stand united in the quest for peace and prosperity in our country for the time of change is now.  I AM LUM PRECIOUS a young advocate for peace.