Education in Cameroon

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Cameroon is known for having one of the best educational systems in Africa. Primary school is both free of charge and obligatory. Statistics say that 70% of all children in ages between 6-12 years go to school. The adult literacy rate is 67.9%.^[1] 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 end up 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 educational system. The country has institutions for teacher training and technical education. At the top of the educational structure is the University of Yaoundé. There is, however, a growing trend for the wealthiest and best-educated students to leave the country in order to study and live abroad, creating a brain drain.

Universities in Cameroon include:

• Bamenda University of Science & Technology
• University of Buea
• University of Douala
• University of Dschang
• University of Ngaoundere
• University of Yaounde (two campuses)
• Yaounde Catholic University
• The International Relations Institute of Cameroon - IRIC (yaounde)
• St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Major Seminary (Bambui)
• Siantou and Ndi Samba Schools of Higher Learning (Yaounde)
• Highlands University (P)

[edit] Notes

1. ^ UN human development indicators.

[edit] References

• http://hometown.aol.com/sucord/unicam.html