HISTORICaL FOUNDaTION OF CAmEROONIAN EDUCATION

Indigenous curriculum Before 1884 The education of the Cameroon indigenous child starts from birth,with its mother being the sole teacher till about 6 years. Norms, values. customs and beliefs The children were taught social conducts, that is, how to behave in the community in relation to elders and peers

academic subjects History, Music Geography, literature, Natural Science, Religion,and Language. 

The German Administration (1884-1914) Reading, Writing and vocabulary were taught in all classes and carried a high number of teaching hours per week. Other subjects in the curriculum included, Arithmetic, Moral principles and Behaviour, German history,Geography, Natural history and History of the territory. By 1912,there were four government elementary shools in Victoria, Douala, Garoua and Yaounde

French/English Administration (1916-1960) Britain and France partitioned Cameroon in two The official language was changed to English/french. German schools were closed down. English: Under native supervision the schools used their vernacular in teaching the lower classes. Their main objective was mass education.

French They wanted them to inculcate French culture. They taught the natives the French language so that they will think like Frenchmen. The French opened basically three types of schools,the village schools,the regional schools and higher elementary schools at the head quarters. These schools were for the elites who were trained as helpers of the French administration. 

curriculum The curriculum consisted of Hygiene, Agriculture, Animal husbandry, local crafts, Reading and Writing, Arithmetic, Singing and Drawing, Only the best students were admitted to the regional and higher elementary schools. 1925 there were 14 government village primary schools and 51 teachers of Cameroonian origin.

The Federal Republic of Cameroon (1960-1972) 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 United Republic of Cameroon (1972-1984) The two systems were merged by 1976. Christian mission schools have been an important part of the educational system. The country has institutions for teacher training and technical education. At the top of the educational structure is the University of Yaoundé. 

The Republic of Cameroon (1984-2012) In 2001, the literacy rate of Cameroon was estimated to be 67.9% (77% for males and 59.8% for females). Most children have access to state-run schools that are cheaper than private and religious facilities. The educational system is a mixture of British and French precedents with most instruction in English or French.

The Republic of Cameroon (1984-2012) In the Cameroon English speaking education sub-system, pupils leaving Primary School enter Secondary School after 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.  So a High School is actually 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 Class and High School for one which offers the complete secondary education program of 7 years 

The Republic of Cameroon (1984-2012) The academic year in Cameroon runs from September to June, at which time, end of year examinations are always written. The General Certificate of Education(GCE)both Ordinary and Advanced levels are the two most qualifying exams in the Anglophone part of Cameroon.