Bishop Michael Miabesue Bibi of Cameroon’s Catholic Diocese of Buea has cautioned teachers and administrators in Catholic schools against examination malpractice, the sale of marks, drug abuse and other misconduct, urging educators to uphold integrity and protect the students entrusted to their care.

In his homily during a thanksgiving Mass for teachers of the Diocese of Buea at the Divine Mercy Co-Cathedral, Bishop Bibi reflected on the 2025-2026 academic year and issued recommendations for the new academic year.

“Education is about the formation of the whole human person,” he said during the Wednesday, August 26 Eucharistic celebration, describing education as “one of the greatest investments we can make in the future of our society.”

Through education, he added, young people should not only be prepared to pass examinations but also to develop their minds and character, discover their talents and become positive contributors to society.

Bishop Bibi emphasized that Catholic schools have a responsibility to form students in integrity, discipline and compassion.

“The mission of a Catholic school cannot be reduced to producing excellent examination results. If all we do is produce students with excellent grades, but without integrity, discipline, compassion, that is why Catholic teachers must always make a difference,” he said.

He said teachers working in Catholic institutions, regardless of their religious affiliation, assume a particular responsibility to respect, uphold and promote the values of Catholic education.

“Our students are watching us. They listen to what we teach, but they also observe how we lead,” the Catholic Church leader said.

He added, “We are supposed to be light bearers. We are supposed to be a good example. We are supposed to be a model for the students that we teach.”

Bishop Bibi issued a particular warning against examination malpractice, insisting that Catholic schools must not compromise academic integrity in pursuit of impressive results.

“We cannot preach integrity in the morning and facilitate examination malpractice in the afternoon. The reputation of our Catholic schools must never be built upon fraudulent results. I would rather have an honest result that challenges us to improve than an impressive result obtained through dishonesty,” he said.

He called on teachers, administrators and other education personnel to protect the integrity of examinations and assessment.

“Marks are not commodities for sale. No student should have to pay a teacher in order to receive marks that he or she has legitimately earned. Likewise, no student should be able to purchase marks that he or she has not earned,” he said.

The Local Ordinary of Buea described the practice as corruption that is unjust to hardworking students and damaging to the education system.

“A teacher has been entrusted with enormous power over students. That power must never be exploited for financial or personal gain,” he said.

Bishop Bibi also urged parents not to encourage teachers to favor their children by offering money or other incentives.

He also warned against the growing challenge of drug abuse and immoral behavior among young people.

The Local Ordinary of Buea, who started his Episcopal Ministry in March 2017 as Auxiliary Bishop of Cameroon’s Bamenda Archdiocese, said Catholic schools cannot remain indifferent when such behaviors affect students and urged teachers never to become part of the problem.

“No teacher should introduce students to drugs, encourage substance abuse, facilitate immoral behavior, or exploit the vulnerability of the students,” he said.

Instead, he said, teachers should serve as protectors and guides by paying attention to changes in students’ behavior, listening to them, correcting them and offering appropriate support.

“Listen to them, guide them, correct them, love them, and make sure that you discipline them so that they don’t get involved in habits that would destroy their future,” Bishop Bibi said.

He reminded educators that the children entrusted to Catholic schools belong first to God and their families, who place them in the care of teachers with confidence.

The Bishop of Buea acknowledged the financial and economic challenges facing teachers, families and Catholic educational institutions.

Despite these difficulties, he praised teachers for continuing to make sacrifices in their work.

“As a diocese, we must continue listening to you and working together to improve our Catholic educational institutions and the conditions under which we carry out our mission,” he said.

Bishop Bibi called for continued dialogue between teachers, school administrators, the education secretariat and the bishop so that challenges can be addressed constructively.

As the new academic year begins on September 7, Bishop Bibi urged teachers to approach their work as a vocation rather than simply as employment.

“Do not enter the classroom simply because another academic year has begun. Enter with a mission,” he said.

Culled from aciafrica