Education in Peril: The Crisis Impacting Future Generations in Cameroon

Jane Ndamei's pursuit of education was interrupted by a violent conflict in Cameroon, highlighting the broader crisis affecting 1.4 million children in the region. Attacks on schools by separatists have closed thousands of educational institutions, displacing families and forcing children out of classrooms across the nation.

The ambition of Jane Ndamei to become a medical doctor was nearly cut short five years ago amidst escalating violence in Cameroon. While sitting for her Grade 12 exam, Jane and her classmates found themselves amid gunfire and chaos as armed men stormed their school, prompting an urgent evacuation of students.

Ndamei is among the 2.8 million West and Central African children whose education has been jeopardized by violent conflict, per United Nations reports. The crisis has led to the closure of over 14,000 schools, and in Cameroon, the devastation wrought by separatists and Boko Haram has left 1.4 million school-age children in need of educational assistance.

Desperate to continue her studies, Ndamei relocated to a French-speaking region, unlike many peers who remain trapped by the conflict. Increasing numbers of displaced children and families face severe challenges, as highlighted by 61-year-old Nelson Tabuwe, with many youths missing essential learning and bearing the brunt of an ongoing, tragic crisis.

(With inputs from agencies.)