CBCHS, Education Stakeholders in NW Region take commitment to foster Inclusive Education
The University of Bamenda (UBa) alongside the Northwest Regional Delegations of Secondary and Basic Education have taken commitment to continue fostering inclusion in the educational system. Prof. Mbiffi Richard, representative of the Vice Chancellor of UBa, NW Regional Delegate of Secondary Education, Mr. Ngwang Roland and his counterpart of Basic Education, Mr. Wilfred Ndong documented their commitments on behalf of their institutions through the formalization of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the CBC Health Services on May 26, 2020 at the Baptist Center Nkwen, Bamenda
Signing on behalf of the CBC Health Services (CBCHS), the Director, Prof. Tih Pius Muffih who presided over the formalization ceremony commended the educational stakeholders for promoting inclusive education in the region. The Director of Health Services (DHS) noted that this MoU is the second one signed with fruitful results given that there is an increased enrollment of students in the University and many successful graduates with disability. Prof. Tih, on a hopeful note, urged all the parties to continue investing efforts in ensuring that learners with impairments study alongside their peers without impairment in their institutions.
In an interview with the media, Prof. Mbiffi Richard highlighted that the doors of UBa are open for all students with disability. He emphasized that the partnership is coming to reinforce their commitment in ensuring that inclusion remains a reality in UBa.
For his part, the Delegate of Secondary Education underlined that the CBC Health Services is assisting in doing what the government is supposed to be doing. He recounted that many of his teachers have been trained on inclusive education, thanks to the CBCHS. On this premise, he said, the government is willing and ready to collaborate with the CBCHS, reason why all hands will be put on deck to ensure that the MoU is appropriately implemented.
The Delegate of Basic Education, Mr. Ndong Wilfred used the opportunity to inform parents to take advantage of the efforts by the CBCHS and the government by sending their children with disability to school so as to benefit from inclusion, which his delegation is already implementing given that majority of his staff have been capacitated on inclusive education.
The objective of the MoU, which runs for 3 years (2020 to 2022), is intended to strengthen the educational system in order to promote inclusive education. Article 3 of the partnership states that all parties shall thus be committed to work together to achieve outcomes consistent with the objectives of UBa, the Delegations of Basic and Secondary Education and the SEEPD Program. The CBC Health Services shall carry out its own responsibilities, thanks to funding from CBM AusAid.
The signing of the MoU by the education stakeholders is an indication that access to education for learners with disabilities will be enhanced in the days ahead. Meantime, many educational stakeholders have continued to hail the CBCHS for standing tall in promoting inclusive education.
