Cameroon: School Counseling should not be an afterthought; something you bring in only when there’s a crisis | Guilian Asongtia

Why is it that in many schools in Cameroon, the only time we talk about counseling is when students are choosing between Arts or Sciences, or picking a series in High school?

Most government schools in Cameroon treat counseling like an afterthought, something you bring in only when there’s a crisis.

But counseling shouldn’t be an emergency service. It’s not just about deciding whether a student should do Arts or Sciences based on their grades.

A school’s job shouldn’t stop at teaching Mathematics and Geography. Schools should also help students discover their potential and that starts with helping them understand who they are and what they want.

Counseling helps students navigate both personal and academic struggles. It teaches them how to learn smart, boosts their confidence, and gives them tools to handle life better.

With strong counseling systems, we can improve academic performance, discipline, and even students’ outlook on life.

Counseling shouldn’t be an afterthought. It should be part of the everyday school culture.

Imagine if every school treated counseling as important as a Math's class, how different will our student's life be?

• Guilian Asongtia | Open Dreams