North West Region Launches 2026/2027 Academic Year in Bamenda
Bamenda, September 3, 2026
The North West Region has officially launched the 2026/2027 academic year with a strong call for collaboration, improved performance and embrace of digital transformation.
The North West Sector Conference for the launching took place at GBTHS Bamenda under the distinguished patronage of the Governor of the North West Region, Adolphe Lele L'Afrique. The ceremony brought together the representative of the North West Regional Assembly, the Bamenda City Mayor, Principals of secondary schools across the region, the Regional Delegate of Secondary Education, Divisional Delegates and other key stakeholders of the secondary education family.
The conference reviewed the 2025/2026 academic year, with 38,416 candidates registered for end-of-course examinations in the region, up from 36,534 the previous year.
In his keynote address, Governor Adolphe Lele L'Afrique commended the entire educational community for keeping schools running despite a difficult context. He assured that administrative and security dispositions have been reinforced to ensure effective resumption across the region.
"Today we launched the school year in the North West region in a context where the security situation has been improved over the years. I want first of all to thank the school community for their mobilization for this school year," the Governor said.
"We have discussed with the teachers corps and other stakeholders to reassure them of the determination of government to ensure that classes take place without major incidents. We expect all stakeholders of the education sector to act as agents of peace in families, communities and the school community."
The Governor also urged the population to support school resumption and to share useful information with relevant authorities to preserve peace in schools.
For his part, the Regional Delegate of Secondary Education for the North West, Baijong Ezekiel, described the last academic year as challenging but successful.
"The school year has been a difficult year, but I think we have succeeded. We had irregular absenteeism, we faced security problems, we lost teachers, one teacher was killed in Jakiri. But that did not stop the good development of the school year. We finished well," he said.
Baijong announced that the 2026/2027 academic year will lay emphasis on high-level digitization, with a special focus on Artificial Intelligence as a pedagogic tool.
"This year we will use AI. As demonstrated, we can have lessons, even practical lessons in science and others with the help of AI. Artificial intelligence has come to help us manage difficult pedagogic situations, even when there are not enough teachers," he noted.
On the level of preparation, the Delegate said the region is ready.
"The region is ready for the 2026/2027 school year. All teachers have been sensitized, parents are ready, establishments have been cleaned, sometimes by traditional authorities, administrative authorities and even parents themselves. We are expecting all schools to resume, even those that did not function last year," he stressed.
Some Principals who attended the conference also expressed readiness for Monday's resumption.
Ade Judith Lum, Principal of GBHS Down Town Bamenda, said her institution has taken measures to improve on its GCE results after a drop this year.
"We are very prepared for the academic year. We have programmed our administrative and general staff meetings, we have diagnostic materials, we have cleaned the campus and classrooms. Admission into Form One is done, class lists and book lists have been published. We are just waiting for students on Monday, September 8th," she said.
"At the Advanced Level we had 67% from 119 candidates and 80.3% at the Ordinary Level. Last year we had 90% at Advanced Level. I have instructed that all examiners who mark GCE in the institution should be put in examination classes to improve results."
The Sector Conference ended with a common resolution from stakeholders to ensure effective, inclusive and peaceful school resumption across the North West Region.
Photo Credit: African Community Media
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