SCHOOLS AND TUITION

School Construction

Education is one of the major keys to a village’s development.  Cameroon Support Organization’s aim is to raise money to build schools in rural Cameroon in collaboration with various NGOs.

The rural areas of Cameroon have many concerns, one of which is the dilapidated condition of the schools.   In order to be safe and able to learn, the children need to have decent buildings.  Many of the villages have schools of fragile post and beam open-sided construction with thatched roofs.  During the wet season, torrential rains interrupt the lessons, and during the dry season, heavy winds blow dust and sand into the structure.  Some villages have schools made of mud bricks and these are on the verge of collapse.  Many children are fearful that they could be hurt if the walls collapse, and so their parents have taken them out of school.  This is one of the reasons the illiteracy rate is over 70 percent in the rural areas. 

Once a school is built, it has a multitude of uses: a school for children during the day, a meeting place for community organizations and adult classes in the evening.  The adult classes include teaching the rural women new farming methods, bookkeeping skills and better hygiene techniques. (See Women Cooperatives) 

Tuition

School buildings are not the only educational need the rural population of Cameroon encounters.  Each family must pay for the schooling of their children.  In rural areas, the cost of educating a child does not seem high by our standards, but is far more than the average Cameroon family can afford. Most often the sons are sent to school, while the girls must stay home and learn the basics of home care from their mother.  In this age of global information, all children need to go to school and Cameroon Support Organization works to see that the funds are available for as many girls as possible.  This is important not only for their self-esteem and success, but also for the future of Cameroon as educated women will lead the way toward a more democratic society.  The tuition fee is $100 a year for the primary grades with higher fees ($200) for high school.  This amount will provide ‘your’ child with clothing, medical needs, the required uniform and books, in addition to paying teacher fees for an entire year. (See Women Cooperatives)