Official languages in schools: Bilingualism commission teams reviewing use in five regions.

The teams headed by commissioners of the institution started work concurrently on November 16. 

A release which the Secretary General of the NCPBM, Dr Chi Asafor Cornelius, issued on behalf of the president of the Commission, Peter Mafany Musonge, indicated that the field missions will end on November 22.

Dr Chi Asafor indicated that the officials of the field are charged with reviewing the “implementation of the national policy on official languages in Cameroon and sensitise the education community on harmonious living together”.

He explained that the teams will also “raise awareness on the dangers of hate speech which is on the rise these days”. 

The Commission insists that, it sees nursery, primary and nursery schools, “as the best foundational levels at which bilingual Cameroonians can effectively be molded”.

Detailing how the review is being done, the NCPBM, indicated that, the teams on the field are holding sessions with school staff. 

During such meetings, it detailed in an explanatory note that low no. 2019/2019 of December 24, 2019 on the promotion of official languages is explained to education stakeholders.

Schools being visited

In the West Region, schools programmed for visits are; Government Bilingual High School, GBHS Bafoussam; Government Bilingual High School Baleng, College Polyvalent Bilinque Martin Lurther King, Government Bilingual Practising Primary School Tocket, and Ecole Bilinque Bilingual, EBB.

Over the North West Region, the Commissioners will work at; GBHS Bamendakwe, GBHS Bangshei, Government Technical High School, GTHS Bamendakwe, Government Nursery and Primary School Prisons Junction, Ecole de Champion Nursery and Primary School Up Station.

 The team in the South Region is charged with doing its evaluation at Lycee Bilingue Essinguili, Lycee Bilingue Ebolowa, Lycee Ebolowa, College Bonneau, Government Bilingual Practising Primary School, Ebolowa and Ecole Matternelle les Moineaux.

On the NCPBM’s agenda, the team in the East Region is programmed to hold sessions at Lycee Bilingue de Bertoua, Government Bilingual Technical School Bertoua, Government Bilingual Primary School Bertoua ENIEG, and International School of Bertoua.

Meanwhile, in the North Region, work mostly centered around Garoua as per the programme of the Commission mentions; Lycee Bilingue de Garoua, Lycee Classique Moderne de Garoua, Lycee Bilingue de Garoua, Lycee Technique Bilingue de Garoua, Ecole Publique de Roumde, Ecole Publique d’Application de Marouare and Ecole Martenelle de Bacheore.

The teams, the Institution explained, are also looking at the equal use of English and French languages through sign posts, information dissemination and documentation among others.  Commissioners on the field are also distributing vital materials, accompanied with explaining the merits of being bilingual.

Schools visited are also being urged to join the NCPBM’s fight against xenophobia and hate speech. The teams are also expected to return to hierarchy with proposals from staff, head teachers, principals and teaching staff on improving Cameroon’s bilingualism experience in schools. 

The exercise is in its second phase. In April this year, the NCPM sent teams to Yaounde, Douala and Buea for a similar exercise 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3629 of Wednesday November 19, 2025