BILINGUALISM WEEK 2024: CELEBRATION OF OFFICIAL LANGUAGES IN CAMEROON
In anticipation of Youth Day on February 11, 2024, the launch of act 19 of National Bilingualism Week took place on Monday January 29, 2024, under the leadership of the Ministries of Secondary Education and Basic Education. Until February 2, Cameroonians are invited to celebrate the merits of bilingualism within the country’s educational establishments.
This year, the emphasis is on the theme “Bilingualism, a vector for the digitalization of teaching for the promotion of civic and moral values in a peaceful and emerging Cameroon”.
The origin of bilingualism in Cameroon dates back to the colonial period, when Cameroon was at the same time ruled by France and Britain as a territory under mandate of the League of Nations (1918-1945), then under the supervision of the United Nations (1945-1960) for French speakers and, 1961 for English speakers and this is the reason why French and English were adopted as official languages of Cameroon after independence.
In accordance with the law of December 24, 2019 on the promotion of official languages in Cameroon, a national day of bilingualism is planned for 237. This day, observed well before the law, used to be marked on the first Friday of the month of February in schools and universities.
Mastery of French and English is presented as a catalyst for human, cultural, economic and technological development. Being bilingual facilitates the integration of communities by promoting the learning of other cultures.
Sandrine N
