The president of the Prefectoral Union of the Association of Parents of Students (UPAPE) and the principal of Lycée Mixte in Bambari have both confirmed the truth of this information to prevent the sequential interruption of the students’ school curriculum in Bambari.
RNL/Rolf Stève Domia Leu: A view of the main entrance of Lycée Mixte de Bambari in Ouaka
For the past few weeks in Bambari, located more than 385 km from Bangui (CAR), a rumor has been circulating about the payment of 250 FCFA by students at Lycée Mixte de Bambari to pay for substitute teachers. This rumor has become persistent, prompting our team at Radio Lego ti La OUAKA to verify this information.
Our fact-checking team spoke with Clément Yamango, President of the Prefectoral Union of the Association of Parents of Students (UPAPE), who confirmed:
“UPAPE, following a meeting, requested that students contribute these 250 FCFA to enable them to pay these volunteer teachers because the number of full-time teachers sent by the government to Bambari is insufficient, and the vacation program was suspended a year ago.” He explained.
Similarly, Palcy Oscar Patchebale, the principal of Lycée Mixte de Bambari, confirmed: “It has been a year since the President suspended the vacation program in CAR, which is why only 21 full-time teachers were sent to Bambari. However, they cannot cover all the schools, which is why the parents of students requested volunteers to step in at the lycée. Since there is no budget for this, the 250 FCFA helps cover the costs of these substitute teachers.”
Our fact-checking team also reached out to the Association of Students of Lycée Mixte de Bambari. According to Patrick Gbagouli, the vice-president of the association: “Some students agreed to pay, while others refused, but after a meeting with class representatives, everyone eventually agreed.”
Some Students Oppose the 250 FCFA Contribution
One such student is Médard Logode, a Terminale A4 student, who expressed his refusal: “I refuse to pay because the government sent full-time teachers, but they have refused to take up their positions.”
It is worth noting that this rumor began circulating a few weeks after a meeting of the Prefectoral Union of the Association of Parents of Students (UPAPE) on February 10, 2022, at Lycée Mixte de Bambari, where the decision was made to request a contribution of 250 FCFA per student to pay for substitute teachers in order to avoid the temporary interruption of the school curriculum in Bambari.
By Anatole Brice Endjipada/Idriss Abdelkrim/Equipe Lego Ti La Ouaka
