THE FIRST NURSERY SCHOOL WEST OF THE MUNGO

 PICTURE I (top): JESSINTA FONCHA, THE  FIRST CHILD TO BE ADMITTED IN THE SCHOOL

 PICTURE 2: (ABOVE): A GRADUATING PUPIL SHOWING OFF HIS CERTIFICATION AT THE END OF THE 1974-1975 ACADEMIC YEAR

PICTURE 3 (ABOVE): A CROSS SECTION OF THE STAFF LAST YEAR:
Left to Right: Mrs. Tanyi Awuma Frida, Mrs Makoko Njonguo Yvonne,Mrs. bAMGASEY  hYCENTA, Miss Nabola Elizabeth, Mrs. Ikundi Susan, Mrs Teku Margaret,Miss Ngayap Josephine, Mrs Lenya Mbua Julie (Current Headmistress) and Mrs. Isuma Ikome Marion
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THE FIRST NURSERY SCHOOL WEST OF THE MUNGO

Although today Cameroon has thousands of Nursery Schools – some of them combined with a primary section – the first West of the Mungo was established in 1964 in Buea. The school which is marking its 50th anniversary this year is still located where the foundation stone was laid 50 years ago.

It is the Government Practicing Nursery School (GPNS) found between the Catholic Education Secretariat and opposite the Buea National Printing Press. When I went there recently, I was warmly welcomed by the Headmistress, Mrs. Lenya Mbua Julie, her entire staff and pupils.

As one enters the campus, one notices two distinct put in place on the 21^st of April 1964 when the day the foundation stone was laid by two distinguished personalities. One was Mrs. Anna Foncha, wife of the then Prime Minister of West Cameroon, John Ngu Foncha. At the time she was also Head of the Council of Women`s Institute (CWI). The other personality who laid the stone was the Hon. L.M. Ndamukong, then Secretary of State for Education in West Cameroon.

The Headmistress of G.P.N.S. told me the story of the school: “From its creation in 1964, it was a philanthropic institution sustained with gifts from friends and husbands of the CWI. Eager to keep their children in a secure place, working women opened the school with an initial number of 28 pupils, the to be enrolled being Jessinta Foncha, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John Ngu Foncha. When the government took over the school in 1972, it was renamed the Government Nursery School, Buea. Later in 1997 when it was affiliated to the Teachers` Training College in Buea. The name was changed to Government Practicing Nursery School (GPNS) later. Today it has a staff strength of 14 of which 10 are classroom teachers, two are Nursery Attendants and one yardman.

Headmistresses of the school

1964-1966: Mrs. Nwalipenja Christine

1966-1967: Mrs. Siewe

1967-1969: Mrs. Ekobena Gertrude

1969-1979: Mrs. Nkuku Nwigwe

1979-1984: Mrs. Naomi Epule

1984-1992: Mrs. Menga Rosaline

1992-1999: Mrs. Kaba Margaret

1999-2011: Mrs. Fawthy Martha

2011- ???: Mrs. Lenya Mbua Juliet (current headmistress).

Some former teachers of the school

-         Mrs. Chifen Monique – Regional Pedagogic Inspector for Nursery Schools in the South West

-         Mrs. Motaze – Sub Director of Basic Education for the South West Region.

-         Mrs. Lenya Mbua Juliet, the current Headmistress taught at the school before being appointed Headmistress.

Right now, there are teachers at the school who were also once pupils there.

Former pupils of the school

-         Ms Kah Walla, prominent politician

-         Mrs. Jessie Atogho Ekukole, journalist and communication officer

-         Mr. Ako Humphrey, Manager of Hi TV

-         Princess Grace Endeley of ELECAM Buea

-         Prof. Joyce Endeley, Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Buea

-         His Excellency, Hon. Tanyi Mbianyor  Clarkson, former cabinet minister.

Surely, at 50, the school has stood the test of time.

By Tikum Mbah Azonga