Friedrich Ebert, CATTU want quality Anglo-Saxon technical education

The German non governmental organisation, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, FES, and the Cameroon Teachers’ Trade Union, CATTU, have expressed the need for quality Anglo-Saxon Technical Education in Cameroon.

Speaking last October 8 during a two-day r workshop sponsored by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung in Bamenda, the National Secretary General of CATTU, Wilfred Tassang said, though the advocacy CATTU and other teachers’ associations mounted for the creation of the University of Bamenda, UBa, and subsequent creation of Higher Teachers Technical Colleges has paid-off, there are still teething problems plaguing technical education in Cameroon, especially with Anglo-Saxon technical education.

Tasang condemned what he termed the systematic erosion of Anglophones from schools in replacement of Francophones who have made it a duty to frustrate students from English background in these schools. Reasons, he said, stem from the fact that nobody, except the powers-that-be are those flooding the technical colleges with Francophones and the Anglophones are deliberately ignored.

“Questions are, therefore, wrongly translated or, at worst, the syllabuses are not what should be studied by the students. These are the problems which only the language we speak and write can solve if we want any quality technical education for a better world. The outcome of our come-together is to provide solutions that can lead to the training of Anglophones in these schools, especially UBa and Kumba to graduate and teach in Anglophone schools. No more No less,” Tasang stated.

On behalf of the Resident Representative of the Friedrich Ebert for Cameroon and Central Africa, Susanne Stollreiter, FES Project Manager, Susan Bamuh Apara, said the foundation has, for several decades, reshaped the educational landscape in Cameroon.

“Permit me admit that the FES/CATTU partnership of about 15 years has brought about satisfactory input to the educational options for Cameroon beyond 2035, curriculum development, gender and education, education and decentralisation, youth illegal migration and corruption in Cameroonian schools, among others.

FES’s wish is to see CATTU stand tall in analysing and integrating socio-economic and socio-political issues into the development process in Cameroon in a timely and sustainable manner,” Bamuh averred.

Harping on the theme of the workshop; “Technical education, a gateway to job creation and employment opportunities,” Bamuh said well structured technical education will empower Cameroonian youths to create jobs, to be employed and to create wealth for themselves, their communities and the societies.

“That way, the 33 percent unemployment rate in Cameroon would be reduced; crime rate, rural exodus and the current brain drain would also be reduced.” Bamuh, called on teachers to remain committed to the calling.

She said, though it is the legitimate right of teachers to clamour for better salaries, fair treatment, better working conditions and adequate personnel, it would also be good for them to “evaluate their performance and strategise to impart the right values and knowledge to the children, despite all odds.”

According to FES Projects Manager, CATTU merits all what she has had from the Friedrich Ebert foundation, because, the fruits are there for everyone to see. FES is a foundation that promotes social democracy and social justice.

Its objectives, among others, are; to contribute to the promotion of peace and understanding among peoples, reinforce civil society organisations, assist in bringing about socio-economic reforms, facilitate regional and global corporation between states and societies. It has 100 offices in the World, 29 of which are in Africa.