Cameroon is a Central African nation on the Gulf of Guinea. Bantu speakers were among the first groups to settle Cameroon, followed by the Muslim Fulani until German domination in 1884. After World War I, the French took over 80% of the area, and the British 20%. After World War II, self-government was granted, and in 1972, a unitary republic was formed out of East and West Cameroon. Until 1976, there were two separate education systems, French and English, which did not merge seamlessly. English and French are now considered the primary languages of instruction, with English being more preferred. Local languages are generally not taught as there are too many, and choosing between them would raise further issues.
Christian mission schools have played a significant role in educating children whose parents can afford them. But most cannot. Primary schooling has been free since 2000, but these are very basic, overcrowded, and parents must pay for all sundries. A 2004 government study found that elementary schools only had enough seats for 1.8 million students, with an attendance of 2.9 million. There are fewer girls than boys, mainly due to such things as early marriage, pregnancy, domestic chores, and traditional biases. On the back of this, the Cameroonian government launched a programme of construction and renewal, but with limited success. Corruption is still a problem, and facilities remain basic. Most schools have working toilets, access to a water tap, or enough tables and benches for students. Teachers are highly trained and highly motivated. Secondary schools are expensive, and there are both state-run and private universities.
The Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) finds that Cameroon is fulfilling only 73.0% of what it should be fulfilling for the right to education based on the country's level of income. HRMI breaks down the right to education by looking at the rights to both primary education and secondary education. While taking into consideration Cameroon's income level, the nation is achieving 90.6% of what should be possible based on its resources (income) for primary education, but only 55.3% for secondary education.
Background Two separate systems of education were used in Cameroon after independence: East Cameroon's system was based on the French model, West Cameroon's on the British model. Uniting the two systems was deemed a symbol of national integration between West and East Cameroon.A. Bame Nsamenang, Therese M.S. Tchombe, "Handbook of African Educational Theories and Practices", Human Development Resource Centre (HDRC), Bamenda, 2011, pp. 483-492. The two systems were merged by 1976, but studies suggest that they did not blend well.Edith Esch, "English and French pedagogical cultures: convergence and divergence in Cameroonian primary school teachers' discourse", in Comparative Education, Vol. 48, No. 3, August 2012, p. 305. Shortly after independence, French was considered the main language of the country, but with the rise of English as a lingua franca, the balance switched to the latter.Mark Dike DeLancey, Rebecca Neh Mbuh, "Historical Dictionary of Cameroon", Scarecrow Press, Plymouth, 2010, 4th edition, p. 70. Christian mission schools have been an important part of the education system, but most children cannot afford them and are forced to choose state-run schools.John Mukum Mbaku, "Culture and Customs of Cameroon", Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut, 2005, p. 15. Education became compulsory up to the age of 12 years, when 6 years of primary schooling are complete. Education is free, but parents have to pay for uniforms, books, and sometimes even anti-malaria prophylaxis for pupils. Tertiary-level students received money monthly back in the days of President Amadou Ahidjo and for the first few years of President Paul Biya. Tuition fees at the secondary school level are high and unaffordable for many families."2005 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor", U.S. Department of Labor, 2006. Available at The country has institutions for teacher training and technical education. There is, however, a growing trend for the wealthiest and best-educated students to leave the country to study and live abroad.
Legislation The Constitution affirms that "the State shall guarantee the child’s right to education [and that] primary education shall be compulsory"; however, the government avoided human rights language and referred only to "equality of opportunity for access to education".Katarina Tomasevski, "Free or Fee: 2006 Global Report – The State of the Right to Education Worldwide", Copenhagen, August 2006, p. 23.
Statistics
General information Statistics Expected years of schooling (on average) 12 yrs Adult literacy rate (people aged 15 and more, both sexes) 71.3% Mean years of schooling (adults) 5.9 yrs Education index 520 Combined gross enrolment in education (both sexes) 60.4
According to data available for 2011, 47.7% of girls and 56.7% of boys attended primary school. The low school enrolment rate was attributed to cost, with girls' participation further reduced by early marriage, sexual harassment, unwanted pregnancy, domestic responsibilities, and certain socio-cultural biases. Domestic workers are generally not permitted by their employers to attend school. A 2004 government study found there is a large gap between the capacity of the schools and the number of potential students. According to the study, preschools served only 16% of the potential student population. Within the school system, the northern provinces were the most underprivileged, with only 5.7% of all teachers working in the Adamawa, North, and Extreme North provinces combined. The study showed that elementary schools only had enough seats for 1.8 million students, although 2.9 million attended school. After these findings, the Cameroonian government launched a three-year programme to construct and renovate schools, improve teacher competency, and provide instructional materials, which was renewed in 2010. Still problems are not to be considered resolved: embezzlement of education funds is considered the main problem in primary education; half of the state primary schools in the sample reported problems with their buildings (only 19% of schools have working toilets, 30% have access to a water tap, and barely 30% have enough tables and benches for students); absenteeism of teachers and poor implementation and enforcement of rules and regulations.
Structure of the educational system The educational system in Cameroon is divided into primary (six years, compulsory), secondary (five years), high school (two years), and tertiary (University).
The academic year runs from September to June, at which time, end-of-year examinations are taken. The General Certificate of Education (GCE), both Ordinary and Advanced levels, are the two most qualifying exams in the Anglophone part of Cameroon. There are two separate secondary schooling systems, depending on whether the French or British colonial models apply. In broad terms, the secondary phase comprises a lower (middle school) and an upper level (high school). Many parents are unable to afford secondary school fees.
Students who graduate from a five-year secondary school program have to sit for the GCE Ordinary Level, and those who graduate from a two-year high school program have to sit for the GCE Advanced Level. So far, the GCE advanced level and the Baccalaureate (the francophone equivalent) are the two main entrance qualifications into institutions of higher learning.
After secondary school, there is the possibility of undertaking "vocational studies," courses aimed at unemployed people under the responsibility of the Ministry of employment.
Grading scale Source:
French grading scale Scale Grade description US Grade Notes 15.00-20.00 Très bien (very good) A 13.00-14.99 Bien (good) A- 12.00-12.99 Assez bien (quite good) B+ 11.00-11.99 Passable (satisfactory) B 10.00-10.99 Moyen (sufficient) C 0.00-9.99 Insuffisant (insufficient) F Failure (May be considered passing if entire year is passed)
English grading scale Scale Grade description Division US Grade A First class A A- Second class Upper division A− / B+ B Second class Lower division B C+ Pass C
Primary and secondary education
Education is compulsory through the age of 12 years. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Primary school education has been free since 2000; however, families must pay for uniforms and book fees. Tuition and fees at the secondary school level remain unaffordable for many families.
In 2002, the gross primary enrolment rate was 108%. Gross enrolment rates are based on the number of students formally registered in primary school and do not necessarily reflect actual school attendance. In 2001, 84.6% of children ages 10 to 14 years were attending school. As of 2001, 64% of children who started primary school were likely to reach grade 5.
Fewer girls enrol in primary school in Cameroon than boys. In 2001, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child identified several problems with the education system in Cameroon, including rural/urban and regional disparities in school attendance; limited access to formal and vocational education for children with disabilities; children falling behind in their primary education; a high dropout rate; lack of primary school teachers; and violence and sexual abuse against children in schools. Early marriage, unplanned pregnancy, domestic chores and socio-cultural biases also contribute to low education rates. Domestic workers are generally not permitted by their employers to attend school.
The adult literacy rate is 67.9%.UN human development indicators. In the southern areas of the country, almost all children of primary-school age are enrolled in classes. However, in the north, which has always been the most isolated part of Cameroon, registration is low. Most students in Cameroon do not go beyond the primary grades. There has been an increasing trend of the smartest students leaving the country in recent years to study abroad and settling there: the so-called "brain drain".
Two separate systems of education were used in Cameroon after independence. East Cameroon's system was based on the French model, West Cameroon's on the British model. The two systems were merged by 1976. Christian mission schools have been an important part of the education system. The country has institutions for teacher training and technical education. At the top of the education structure is the University of Yaoundé. There is, however, a growing trend for the wealthiest and best-educated students to leave the country to study and live abroad, creating a brain drain.
passing the Government Common Entrance Examinations (and obtaining a First School Leaving Certificate) in Class 6 (now) or 7 (formerly). The last two years in secondary school, after GCE O Levels, are referred to as high school. A high school is part of the secondary school but in Cameroon, it is habitual to talk of secondary school for a school which ends at the O Levels and high school for one which offers the complete secondary education program of 7 years (or one which simply has lower and upper sixth classes).
Researchers from the PanAf Project Cameroon found that female students now use social internet networks more for pedagogical reasons than the traditional thought of searching for boyfriends. The most used social internet networks included Facebook, Myspace, Hi-5, WhatsApp, Aidforum and Commentcamarche.
Higher education