Cameroon Professional Development Teaching-1
Cameroon Professional Development Teaching-1
Cameroon Professional Development Teaching-1
The Cameroon
Education Plan
2013-2020
Professional development in
teaching: challenges and
solutions.
1
Abbreviations
Introduction
This paper draws on information readily available on the Cameroon education plan 2013-
2020 related to teacher training and teaching for global competence. The Cameroon
education plan 2013-2020 explores lessons learned from previous education strategies,
analyses the strengths and weaknesses of the education and training system and suggests
possible opportunities.
2
Demographic context
Young people represent more than 50% of the population. It is expected the demand for
education will increase. The urban population has grown at an accelerated pace from 14% in
1950 to 58% in 2010. This trend is expected to continue between 2010 and 2020. Figure 1
shows the 10 subdivisions of Cameroon. The population is unequally distributed over the
territory. This contributes towards education inequality.
1
UNESCO-UNEVOC. (2015).
2
République du Cameroun. (2013).
3
Nsolly & Charlotte (2016).
3
The Cameroonian education system consists of two subsystems: the British subsystem and
the French subsystem. Figure 2 summarises the Cameroonian education structure. Pre-
primary education is the first level of schooling. The duration of pre-primary education is 2
years, however, in some cases it can be 3 or 4 years. The duration of primary education is 6
years for both subsystems. The total duration of general education for both subsystems is 7
years, however, the composition of the British and French secondary education systems
differ. The British secondary education system consists of 5 years of lower secondary
education and 2 years of upper secondary education. The French education system involves
4 years of lower secondary education and 3 years of upper secondary education. Secondary
technical training has the same structure.
Various pathways to teaching exist in Cameroon4. Both government and private institutions
deliver teacher training.
Government teacher training: individuals can receive primary school teacher training
through ENIEG/ENIET. Secondary school teacher training can be received through ENS. TVET
teacher training takes place at ENSET institutes.
4
Djeumeni Tchamabé, M. (2015).
4
Private teacher training: trainees can receive school teacher training at private institutions
accredited to deliver teacher training.
• Inadequate curricula and training programmes5: In the 1990s there was a reform of
the curriculum of the teacher training colleges in Cameroon. Teacher training remains
theoretically focused and lacks experiential learning.
The country’s 2035 vision of development calls for a major redefinition of the tasks assigned
to schools as well the adoption of fundamental principles of governance. Schools remain
responsible for developing citizens, fostering: individuality, economic understanding,
collective responsibility, moral values, intellectual ability, political and civic understanding.
• The development of citizens rooted in their culture whilst being respectful and open
to the world with a general interest in the common good;
• The development of universal ethical values of dignity, the sense of honour, honesty,
integrity and discipline;
• The delivery of family education;
• The fostering of bilingualism and fluency in national languages;
• The introduction to culture and practice of democracy, respect for human rights and
freedoms, justice and tolerance, the fight against all forms of discrimination, the love
of peace and dialogue, civic responsibility and the promotion of regional and sub-
regional integration;
• The culture of love, effort and hard work, the pursuit of excellence and the spirit of
partnership;
• The development of creativity, initiative and entrepreneurship;
• The physical, athletic, artistic and cultural development of the child;
• The promotion of hygiene and health education.
5
The World Bank. (2017).
5
• Increasing the availability of textbooks and teaching materials: The government has
decided to encourage a book policy that will promote local publishing and the
availability of books.
• Expanding the use of ICT in education and training. Education and training will be
modernised through the integration of ICT. It will:
-Strengthen the capacity of teachers and support staff to use computer tools and
digital teaching resources;
-Promote new opportunities and new training tools (e-learning, distance learning,
tutorials etc.);
-Improve the learning environment in schools.
References
Nsolly, B., Charlotte, M. (2016). Integration of ICTs into the curriculum of Cameroon primary
and secondary schools: A review of current status, barriers and proposed strategies for
effective Integration. Journal of Education and Practice. 7 (23), 89-106.