Saint Albert's Comprehensive College, Bafut
Saint Albert's comprehensive college, Bafut Cameroon, is a Marist-owned establishment. It is entirely boarding and co-educational. It belongs to the Marist District of West Africa and it is run and administered by the Marist Brothers in Cameroon. The authorization to create the college was given on the 23rd November, 2004, by the then honourable Minister of National Education, Joseph Owona.
Brief history of the school
Saint Albert's comprehensive college, Bafut Cameroon, is a Marist-owned establishment. It is entirely boarding and co-educational. It belongs to the Marist District of West Africa and it is run and administered by the Marist Brothers in Cameroon. The authorization to create the college was given on the 23rd November, 2004, by the then honourable Minister of National Education, Joseph Owona.
The first batch of 159 students who were admitted into this college, made up of 72 boys and 87 girls, walked through the doors of the college in September, 2005. The college later got official authorization to go operational only during the academic year of 2008/2009 from the Minister of Secondary education, Louis Bapes Bapes. So, in a simple and humble way, all domains of school life began in St Albert's college Bafut.
When we look back at the journey the college has covered so far, we have many reasons to thank God for, and to rejoice in God's goodness that in so short a period of time, it has made such tremendous progress. In a short while, the college has been able to achieve through the commitment, hardwork and foresightedness of the Brothers, staff and students what other colleges have not been able to achieve even with long history around their belts.
Through the infrastructure put in place, one can tell almost immediately that there is a deliberate attempt by us, the Marist Brothers, to put the staff and students of this establishment at the center of all the formation that is taking place on campus. We have, therefore, created this space deliberately to make our students learn in the best environment possible, knowing that the love of God experienced through our humble hands can fully take shape in the lives of young people studying in St Albert's college, Bafut, only if the best human conditions available are created around the learning environment, the infrastructures, etc.
The founding principal of this first Marist Brothers' college in Cameroon is Br Lukong Francis Yufenyuy. He administered the institution with great love, zeal, passion, enthusiasm, commitment, generosity and professionalism for seven years, that's from September, 2005 to August, 2012. The current principal is Br lvo Njongai Leynyuy who started administering the college from September, 2012.
The Mission of the school
To further the Mission of our founder, St Marcellin Champagnat, with the aim of fostering the Christian formation and academic education of the young under the banner of Mary, so that they may become good Christians and well behaved citizens.
The Vision of the school
After having received Christian formation and academic education in St Albert's college, Bafut, our ex-students would be expected to be men and women of integrity, great faith in God, being charitable to the poor, having a sense of brotherhood and community life, love and respect for one another, and having the spirit of hardwork and commitment in their respective areas of professional life.
The philosophy of the school
The Marist brothers together with their teachers are committed to journeying with young people creatively so as to respond to their ever changing needs.
The school administrators
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Br Ivo Njongai Leynyuy | Principal |
| Br Oliver Tunka Tata | School Bursar |
| Mr Mark Moaka Maimo | Vice Principal/Dean of Studies |
| Mr Cho Napoleon | Discipline Master |
| Miss Noella Bongshe | School Secretary |
The Educational level
Secondary and High school levels, Offering general and commercial Subjects at both levels.
Subjects offered
* Science Subjects.
* Arts Subjects.
* Commercial Subjects.
Non-curricular Activities
* Sports and physical education.
* Manual work.
* Clubs' activities.
* Liturgical music.
* Religious and prayer groups.
* Staff socials and students' social Evenings.
* Activities during Catholic education Week.
* Doctrine classes for sacraments Of Christian initiation.
School awards
- Certificates of excellent Performance in end of year Certificate examinations since 2010 from the regional delegate of secondary education.
- Excellent Administration award from National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon to the principal of St Albert's college Bafut following the Excellent performance in June, 2016 End of course official examinations.
Conclusion
When the socio-political crisis in English speaking Cameroon broke out in November, 2017, we struggled with a lot of risk to go through successfully to the end of 2017/2018 academic year. Since then, Saint Albert's comprehensive college, Bafut, has remained closed for the past two years. The insecurity of the Brothers, students and staff caused us to stop functioning till the crisis will be over. It has really been a very sad, painful, heartbreaking and frustrating experience for us, the Marist brothers in Cameroon to stay for this length of time without carrying out our apostolic ministry in the lone school we have. It is our hope and prayers that long lasting solutions will soon be gotten to end the persistent socio-political crisis, so that young people may continue to benefit from the quality and holistic education offered by us, the Marist Brothers and our collaborators in Saint Albert's comprehensive college, Bafut, Cameroon.