Even though it was the first day of the new term yesterday, effective classes began across the country.

Nursery, primary and secondary schools in the country on Monday April 21, 2014, resumed for the third term of the 2013-2014 academic year. In Yaounde, nearly all schools campuses were busy with students. Even though it was the beginning of the term, effective classes began immediately.

The third term of every academic year is particularly busy as students and pupils prepare for promotion and certificate examinations. At the Collège Vogt in Yaoundé, classes began at 8:00 a.m. after the usual morning assembly. Latecomers were not allowed into the main campus in order not to disturb the assembly. After receiving instructions from the Principal, Rev. Father Jean Hervé, the students marched to their different classrooms for classes.

Father Hervé said reopening went on smoothly, adding that examinations are near and students are aware of the challenges ahead of them. He said most of the syllabus has already been covered. As a result, the third term will be mostly for revision, he assured.

Students of Terminal and Segond are already preparing for mock examinations which start on May 4, 2014. “The students have two weeks of studies and four days of revision before the examinations,” the Principal explained. As for latecomers, Father Hervé said students had to do some cleaning up for about 30 minutes before going to class.

At the Government Bilingual Practising High School, Yaounde, a good number of students were present at the morning assembly and classes began at 7:50 a.m. The Vice Principal, Gladys Ngono, welcomed the students and called on them to work harder as it is a very short term. She explained that those preparing certificate examinations were busy revising.

As for the rest of the school, 80 per cent of the syllabus was covered before going on holidays. “The teachers finished the sixth sequence before the Easter vacation. Most of the work now is revision,” she said. She said students will close after May 20 celebrations and only come for the report cards after the GCE which is the last official examination.

The story was the same for the primary schools. At the Government Primary School, Olezoa Group 1, all the classrooms were full. Officials of the school said nearly all the pupils were present as effective classes began immediately. Our source said most of the work this term will be revision for the CEP examination and promotion examinations. The rest of the school will end classes on May 14, 2014 and close on May 22, 2014.