Free Education

BCA-USA FIVE-YEAR SCHOOL FEE PROJECT IN BALI, CAMEROON At the BCA-USA Leadership Summit held in Fargo, North Dakota, in October 2023, a landmark decision was reached to launch a five-year School Fee Project aimed at supporting pupils and students in Bali Nyonga, Cameroon. This initiative was born out of a deep humanitarian need and a strong commitment to education, inspired by the devastating impact of the ongoing crisis in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon. 

Since 2017, the conflict has led to the closure of more than 200 schools—particularly government-run primary, secondary, and high schools—disrupting the education of thousands of children. Bali Nyonga, a prominent town in the Northwest Region, saw a significant number of its schools shut down. Many students and pupils were forced to abandon their education, resulting in mass displacement to other regions of the country. For families without external support or connections outside Bali, options were limited. Caught between conflict and survival, many children were drawn into the unrest, while others simply stayed home, unable to continue their schooling. 

In response to this crisis, BCA-USA launched the Five-Year School Fee Project, with the goal of reviving educational access and easing the financial burden on families. A local oversight team, led by Rev. Fonsang and his team in Bali, was established to collect accurate, on-the-ground data. Through their efforts, 243 schools were identified in the subdivision, serving an estimated 2,200 pupils. Following careful research and analysis by the BCA-USA leadership in collaboration with the Education Committee—chaired by liaison officer Ni Gilbert Nteh—a shortlist of 24 relatively well-structured schools was created. From this pool, six schools were selected for the pilot phase of the project, based on a set of clearly defined criteria. 

The Leadership Summit resolution stipulated that the pilot would initially focus on public and parochial schools. The six schools selected for the pilot phase are: 1. Presbyterian School Njenka 2. Presbyterian School Tikali 3. Catholic School Bali Town 4. Catholic School Njenka 5. Cameroon Baptist Convention School 6. Ancilla Catholic School Wosing In the 2024–2025 school year, BCA-USA successfully paid school fees for 808 pupils in these six institutions for the first term, amounting to 5,904,667 CFA francs. An additional payment of 5,986,167 CFA francs covered fees for 819 pupils—reflecting growing enrollment and need. To ensure transparency and accountability, Terms of Reference and Engagement Letters were signed by all participating schools. 

These agreements affirm the schools’ commitment to BCA-USA’s monitoring and audit protocols, ensuring responsible use of funds and data integrity. Looking ahead, a key resolution from the 2024 Leadership Summit in Louisiana aimed at expanding the scope of the project: starting next academic year, duly registered private schools will also be eligible to participate in the School Fee Project. However, this will be reevaluated, and a vote will be taken at that time. This initiative represents not only a lifeline for students in Bali but also a symbol of hope, solidarity, and long-term investment in education and peacebuilding.

 Through this five-year commitment, BCA-USA continues to demonstrate its unwavering dedication to empowering communities and restoring opportunity where it’s needed most. BY BCA-USA Educational Committee