Fight Against Illegal Schools: SYNFEPLC Steps Up Drive

T he Union of Founders of Pri­ vate Secular and Denomina­ tional Educational Institutions in Cameroon (SYNFEPLC) has an­ nounced measures to strengthen the regulation of private education, combat clandestine schools and im­ prove the financial sustainability of school proprietors. These measures were arrived at during an assembly that took place in Douala on October 21. The assembly that brought together founders of private educational ins­ titutions and vocational training centres from across the country was aimed at relaunching the union’s activities and define its priorities for the new operational year. The main focus of discussions was a circular from the Ministry of Terri­ torial Administration (MINAT), which, according to the union’s national president, Jean Nyamsi authorises its representatives to work alongside administrative authorities in iden­ tifying and shutting down illegal educational establishments. The president said the measure would reinforce efforts to tackle clandes­ tine schools, with local administra­ tive authorities expected to support enforcement operations. It came out from the discussions that two categories of establish­ ments were identified as illegal, that is, schools operating without ministerial authorisation and insti­ tutions holding authorisation but operating from premises that do not meet the required standards, including residential homes and un­ suitable rented buildings. To implement the initiative, SYN­ FEPLC plans to establish monitoring structures across the all regions of Cameroon. These structures will identify suspected illegal institutions and collaborate with the c...