The Bamenda I Council recently donated didactic material to some 25 pupils attending the Juvenile Reformatory Schools of the Bamenda Prison.

Addressing the children and prison authorities, the Mayor of Bamenda I Council, Caroline Bongwa, said the didactic materials donated show the concern the Council has for the pupils’ education in and out of prisons.

“Prisons Administrator, Head teacher and teachers, what has been given today is meant strictly for these young children and should be judiciously used by them. The text books carry the Council stamps because we know they will be useful to present and future pupils.

The Director of the Juvenile Reformatory School, Bertrand Chuo Abuambeng, thanked the Council for the books. He said when the prison requested for the assistance, they were not expecting a quick response from the Mayor.

“Your prompt action will go a long way to ameliorate the educational standards of the juveniles. He said most of the children, if not all, are either orphans or have been abandoned by their parents.

Apart from school needs, the Director of the school presented other needs to include: lack of laundry and bathing soap, rubbing oil, slippers and more. Despite these odds, Achuo averred, the school, for the past five years, has been scoring 100 percent in the First School Leaving Certificate Examinations.

“Two of our products are in Government Bilingual High School Bamendankwe. So, your kind intervention will quicken the reformation process and by the time the juveniles graduate, they will be capable of sustaining themselves in life".

The Juvenile Reformatory School Bamenda Central Prison was founded in 1983 by Catholic Chaplaincy led by Rev. Father Nilen. In the 1988/1989 school year, the Government took over the school by sending civil servants to teach there.