By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
In order to overcome the obstacles that children will undoubtedly face, the Minister of Secondary Education, Prof. Pauline Nalova Lyonga, has called on parents to foster closer communication with their children.
Minister Nalova Lyonga made the call on February 9 in Yaounde during the launching ceremony of a novel titled “Clean School or School With a Difference,” written by Yvonne Flore Belma Chonga. Minister Nalova was accompanied by the Secretary of State to the Ministry of Secondary Education, Bayaola Boniface, among others.
Speaking, Minister Nalova Lyonga stressed the importance of parents talking to their children, even if others also engage in conversation with them. She urged parents to fulfill their obligation to communicate with their children in order to prevent situations that could be avoided.
She stressed that it is the responsibility of parents, as mothers or fathers, to learn how to effectively communicate with their children, as some African parents have not yet acquired this skill. She warned that failing to communicate with children could lead to small issues escalating into significant problems.
“As a mother or father, you must learn to talk to your children. Some African parents have not learned how to talk to a child but we will have to, otherwise, a little thing that could have been avoided will result in something so big that one can’t understand,” Minister Nalova Lyonga stressed.
Minister Nalova Lyonga not only admired the bravery of Belma Chonga in sharing her story but also highlighted the significance of addressing cleanliness, which is often underestimated. The Minister emphasized that Belma Chonga aims to ensure that parents engage in continuous dialogue with their children and that they learn to overcome obstacles together.
on her parth, Belma Chonga, the author, stated that her motivation for writing the novel stemmed from her personal experiences during her youth and in school, where she faced various challenges due to lack of hygiene and sanitation.
Belma Chonga expressed her desire to prevent other young girls and married women from enduring similar experiences by advocating for better communication between parents and children. She emphasized that children have a lot to share but can only do so if they have a close relationship with their parents.
While hoping that her work will complement the government’s efforts in this area, she added, “Today I am so happy because my novel is not only for children but also for parents. You will see that the lack of communication with my parents make me to carry diseases for a long time and today, I am calling for parents especially mothers to be closed to their girl children.”
During the launching ceremony, sketches highlighting the importance of a clean school and a documentary on clean schools were among the event’s highlights.
Yvonne Flore Belma Chonga holds a Professional Masters in Town Planning and Engineering. She is also the President of the Cameroon NGO for Help in Hygiene and Youths Onsertion on Communities (ACAHIJEC) and the Country Representative of the Spanish Association, Centre De Cooperation Interculturel de la Femme Africaine (CODAF)
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