Abstract:
The Anglophone socio-political crisis has militarized secondary schools’ vicinities in Bamenda,
exposing students to ongoing threats of violence, harassment, and educational disruption with severe
consequences for mental health. This study investigates the implications of schooling in military zones
for students’ mental health and emotional development in selected secondary schools in Bamenda
Town, North West Region of Cameroon. Specifically, the research examines how disruption of
education and school attendance, physical and sexual harassment, and experiences of death and injury
affect students’ psychosocial well-being. A mixed methods research design was adopted, utilizing
questionnaires for students and interview guides for teachers and administrators. Purposive and
convenient sampling techniques were employed to select schools and participants. A total sample of
303 respondents was involved, comprising 288 students, 5 administrators, and 10 teachers.
Quantitative data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, and Spearman’s rho correlation
test, while qualitative data were examined using thematic analysis. Findings revealed that educational
disruptions, harassment, and exposure to death and injury significantly affect students’ mental health
and emotional development. Based on these findings, it is recommended that parents, guardians, and
teachers provide psychosocial support while educating students on safety measures in militarized
zones. Students should remain calm during armed confrontations and avoid actions that may escalate
tensions with military personnel. Furthermore, school stakeholders and policymakers should advocate
for safer learning environments, ensuring that the presence of security forces in schools contributes to
protection rather than threatens student and cause psychological harm. School-based trauma-informed
counselling, sensitization of security forces, and policy support for psychosocial services tailored to
crisis-prone urban settings be upheld in the North West Region |
