Lower Thirds: 
0:17	Emmanuella Shey, Attack survivor
1:02	Sharon Shey | Emmanuella’s mother
1:41	Buea, Summer 2025
2:04	Blaise Eyong | DW Correspondent
2:34	'Alex' | School teacher
3:14 	Chambellan Ntou'ou Ndong | Senior Divisional Officer
3:47	Report by Blaise Eyong

Script: 

Emmanuella had been attending a school parade last year when the blast went off. It was an improvised explosive device. Now, she has lost both her legs. She was just seventeen years old.
Emmanuella Shey ENGLISH SUBTITLED
'We stand and we were just watching how they were making the activities and we just find ourselves down. They took me to the hospital. After that, they have washed my wound before. I know that something happened to me. I was feeling too much pain. I was very sad. I was crying that my own is finished because I cannot walk again''

The separatists regularly impose boycotts of school and public life. Anyone who defies their orders can become a target. 
 
+++ ((SOT)) ((Pidgin)) Shey Sharon, Emmanuella’s mother OVERVOICED
When I heard the news of the attack, it was very difficult for me. I didn't even know if I would have the strength to get to the hospital. When I arrived, I fainted and didn't know where I was. I arrived at the hospital and saw my daughter's amputated legs. I fell down and collapsed.

Despite her suffering, Emmanuella is determined to return to the classroom. She will be attending school this year, and says she wants to fulfil her dream of becoming a doctor.

The deteriorating security situation has forced many students to flee to safer areas like the regional capital Buea. But even here, schools protected by troops standing guard at the entrance, don’t open during the boycotts. And the influx of students here means classrooms often have more pupils than they can accommodate.
 
+++ ((PTC)) ((English)) ((BLAISE EYONG))
‘More than 2,000 schools remain closed in the English-speaking regions of Cameroon. According to a UN report published in May, this has left 223,000 children without access to education.’’

We travelled to Muyuka, in the countryside about 30 kilometres out of Buea where education has been worst-hit by the conflict. A teacher from a local school agreed to speak to us as long as we protect his identity.  
 
((SOT)) ((English)) ALEX’’, School Teacher‘’ VOICED; BLUR ON WHOLE SCREEN
 You are teaching in class and you suddenly hear gunshots, and you and your students lie down, not knowing who is shooting who, and you wait till it subsides and all of you find your ways back home, hoping that the following week things could get normal and so on. So, it's really very dangerous. You know, each day I go to work preparing my mind like I may never come back because sometimes you're on your way to work and you don't know that there are gunshots ahead and fortunately a colleague just sent you a message and tells you not to come because there's danger ahead’’

As attacks continue, local authorities insist the violence must be stopped:
 
+++ ((SOT)) ((English)) ((SDO)) Chambellan Ntou'ou Ndong, Senior Divisional Officer SUBTITLED
We have realised that this crisis is not helping us. It's time for us to come back like mature people in the spirit of love and understanding, for us to send back our children inside the classrooms.

The government has tried sending troops to the region to stop the violence and implementing an amnesty programme for separatists to lay down their arms and surrender. But here in Muyuka the technical high school has been abandoned for years. And - not a single government-run school is open here. 
+++ END +++