Saker Baptist College

Saker Baptist College is an all-girls secondary school located in Limbe in Cameroon. It was founded in 1962 as one of the first two secondary schools for girls in Cameroon. (See North American Baptist Conference Heritage Center Archive Brochure "CBC. 1963. “Saker Baptist College Dedication” posted at: http://www.sakerpride.com/DOCUMENTS.html) Its inaugural class of 36 students arrived on January 29, 1962. The school has since grown to almost a thousand students. Some applicants have to be turned away each year due to lack of space.

Saker Baptist College
Location
Limbe
,
South West Region

 Cameroon
Information
TypePrivate, All-girls, Boarding school
Founded1962
LanguageEnglish

History

On 27 January 2007, a chapel worth CFA 200 million was given to the college.[1]

Administration

Principals
  • 1962 - Miss Bernice Westerman (followed by Miss Geraldine Glasenapp as Acting Principal, succeeded by Miss Esther Schultz, and then by Miss. Ruby Saalzman)
  • 1966 - 1969 Mr. Donald Witt
  • 1969 - 1972 Dr. Norman Haupt
  • 1972 - 1991 Mr. William Nso Tayui
  • 1992 - 1998 Mr Tetevi Bodylawson
  • 1999 - 2009 Mr. Paul Luma Haddison
  • 2010 - 2012 Mrs. Karen Lyonga
  • 2012 - 2016 Mrs. Matuke Stella Tonge
  • 2016 to present day Mr. Nshomsi Wilfred Ghawi

Vice principals
  • Miss Wilma Binder
  • Mr. Tetevi Bodylawson
  • Miss Binana Welakuh
  • Miss Jabea Patience
  • Mrs. Karen Lyonga
  • Mrs. Hannah Motutu
  • Mr. Takoh Fru Festus
  • Mr. Karngong George
  • Mrs. Lucy Defang
  • Mr. Godlove Toh
  • Mr. John Mokake
  • Mr. Agbor Robertson
  • Mrs. Mekaneh Nshom Winifred

Student life

Students are housed in dormitories, each of which belongs to one of four houses. The houses are Witt House, Bosen-Daiga (formerly Armstrong) House, King House and Burnley (formerly New) House (also known as New House because it is the newest house). Each house consists of six or seven dorms. Each dorm can house from 22 to 40 students. Most of the dorms are named after missionaries that contributed to the school's existence.

The average student's day begins at 5:00am. Some students have assigned morning chores to complete before the morning devotion and breakfast. Classes begin at 7:30am and end at 2:00pm. Lunch follows classes and then a compulsory siesta period. Supper is served in the early evening with "prep", an evening studying period, following supper. After prep, students have thirty minutes to prepare for bed. "Lights out" is at 9:30pm. Students in form one are assigned to upper sixth girls who are formerly called "bigs". Rising time is at 6:00 am for all houses.

Special events

Students celebrate the school's anniversary every year. As part of a tradition, a group of student conspire to "steal" the official school bell a few days before the anniversary so that they can ring it at midnight on January 29. The celebration sometimes goes as far as students going beyond the dorm area and into the teachers' living area.

As part of the annual Inter-house Competition each dorm is assigned to one of four groups. Students then sign up for sports activities in which they wish to participate. This is a two-day event that begins on Friday afternoon with the singing of the official Saker Anthem on the School Field. Activities go on all day Saturday and the day ends with the announcement of the winning group and the distribution of prizes.

The annual Spiritual Emphasis Weekend starts on Friday, with a common meal, shared by the students, staff and some invited guests (usually counsellors/pastors invited for the program), and thereafter a sermon. The next two days consist of sermons, interspaced with free periods when students can meet the counsellors for advice.

The Christmas concert that is presented by students in the drama club and school choir. It tells the story of Christmas and the Messiah. This is usually done at the end of the first term in December. It is a two-day event; on the first day the students watch the play and on the second day invited guests are honored with the presentation of the play.

Saker Baptist college was the first secondary school in Cameroon to do an annual graduation prize-giving ceremony, as well as the first to have students wear graduation robes. The prize-giving ceremony involves just the graduating students and staff.

The College Singers

In 1969, a student choir named The College Singers toured the United States and Canada, becoming the first such choir from a West African secondary school to do so. A detailed account of their trip is documented at: http://www.sakerpride.com/CAMEROON-COLLEGE-SINGERS.html

Ecumenical contribution

Although Saker Baptist College was founded as an establishment whose teachings were typically Baptist, SBC now educates students of all religions. On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the principal allows religious ministers of different faiths to come in and minister to students belonging to those affiliations. Some catholic students celebrate mass in parishes that are in proximity to the school.

gollark: He's done nothing *else* for several years.
gollark: I *might*.
gollark: You appear to be missing them on O-R still.
gollark: Also, only me and aidan.
gollark: We can give you a special role.

References
  1. Mbonwoh, Nkeze (9 February 2007). "Cameroon: South-West, Saker Receives Chapel Worth CFA 200 Million". AllAfrica. Retrieved 12 September 2018. A 200 million chapel for the Saker Baptist College - Limbe has been completed and handed over to the school administration.
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