Professionalising Education: Government, Dutch Charity Sign Agreement

Kimeng Hilton NDUKONG /Cameroon-Tribune

The deal allows for the introduction of entrepreneurship courses in primary and secondary schools.

As part of efforts to make education more professional, the Ministry of Secondary Education on Thursday, September 17, 2015, in Yaounde signed an agreement with a Dutch Non-governmental Organisation, Aflatoun. The deal allows for the introduction of social, financial and entrepreneurship courses in teacher training colleges and eventually in primary and secondary schools. The agreement is for an initial three-year period.

The Minister of Secondary Education, Louis Bapes Bapes, signed for government while the Chief Executive Officer of Aflatoun, Roeland Monasch, signed for his charity. Minister Bapes Bapes explained that the agreement will promote the teaching of professional courses right from the elementary level. This, he explained, will enable children to build on as they go further in education. The Minister of Secondary Education said the Dutch NGO will introduce curricula to improve the chances of school leavers securing jobs. It will also address the needs of elementary school pupils by first forming teacher training college students.

According to Roeland Monasch, the system is an interactive approach to learning with courses in entrepreneurship, employment and diversity rights. He assured that once teachers are well trained, students will do well in class. Roger Fokou Kaffo, the Cameroonian representative of Aflatoun announced that courses will be designed for pre-nursery, nursery and secondary school children. He assured that a spirit of entrepreneurship will be inculcated in the children.