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This is the message of the Minister of Secondary Education, Professor Nalova Lyonga, to the National Education Community, for the 23rd Edition of the World Philosophy Day, celebrated on 21 November 2024, under the theme “Philosophy and Human Well-being”.

This message was delivered at the Edea ceremonial ground by Jean-Paul Marcellin Mebada, Inspector General of Education and personal representative of the Minister of Secondary Education at Edea. The Minister’s envoy was accompanied by the Senior Divisional Officer of the Sanaga-Maritime Division, Cyrille Yvan Abondo, and surrounded by other officials of the MINESEC central administration, as well as the Regional Delegate for Secondary Education for the Littoral, Madam Eboa Thamar. The gracious presence of the Bishop of Edea Diocese, His Lorsdhip Jean-Bosco Ntep added up to the prestige of this ceremony.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Secondary Education, the Inspector General of Education noted the decisive role played by Philosophy in building a civilization of collective well-being. He used this opportunity to specify that well-being is not to be confused with the accumulation of material goods, or falling prey to the lure of easy money.

Therefore, he enjoineded philosophy teachers to nurture knowledge, know-how and interpersonal skills in students, most of whom are emotionally vulnerable young people. He also reassured the teachers of MINESEC's resolute commitment to offer them, as far as possible, the appropriate working conditions to make philosophy the flame of human well-being.

It is in this light that prizes worth 100,000 and 50,000 FCFA were awarded by Professor Nalova Lyonga to the 37 (20 students and 17 trainers) national winners of the national competition for the best philosophy essay and the best philosophy corpus organized on 16 October 2024 as a prelude to the celebration.

For the Littoral Region, a total of 4 students, 2 teachers, 1 Regional Pedagogic Inspector and the Regional Coordinating Inspector of Philosophy were honoured with the ministerial prize for the quality of their contribution to deepening the learning of philosophy.

Aimé Ngidjol, ARO1/Celcom

Congratulations !

Congratulations !

“This innovation in the 21^st Century is helping us to move ahead and reform our education”, Professor Nalova Lyonga declared.

The Diaspora Academic Network for Africa (Diana RY), Finland hosted a two-day online seminar titled the “Finland-Africa Collaboration Platform for Teacher Training and Capacity-building on 5-6 June 2024. This event brought together education stakeholders from Finland and Sub-Saharan African countries to discuss strategies for improving teacher training and professional development.

One of the highlights of the event was the keynote address delivered by the Minister of Secondary Education, Professor Nalova Lyonga, which centred around the topic “What Quality African Teacher for the 21^st Century, Governance, Training, Professional Development, Welfare and Innovation”. This was at the Conference Hall of the Distance Education Centre in the presence of the Secretary of State in Charge of Teacher Training, Boniface Bayaola, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Secondary Education, Professor Pierre Fabien Nkot, the Inspector General of Services, Fidelis Akat, the Inspector General of Education, Jean Paul Marcellin Mebada, Directors and Inspector-Coordinator Generals of the Central Services of her ministerial department.

 In the address, the Minister defined who a teacher is, profiled of the 21^st Century teacher, and explained the main guidelines governing the teaching profession and the needs and gaps in the domain.

Professor Nalova Lyonga defines teachers according to the National Education Policy, “as people who truly shape the future of our children and therefore, the future of our nation. The motivation and empowerment of teachers is required to ensure possible future for our children and nation”. As regards the profile of the 21^st Century teacher, the Minister stated that he/she should be one who possesses technological proficiency, global awareness, adaptability, empathy and emotional intelligence, classroom management, collaboration skills, behaviour, cultural competence, and promote dialogue.

The guidelines stated by Professor Nalova Lyonga centred on teacher training, equal distribution of resources in all the ten regions of Cameroon, inclusive education, assessment reform, technological integration and mental health support.

She went ahead to present the needs and gaps from the results of a survey carried out with 543 teachers. The results of the survey showed the gaps and the needs arrived at: the need for initial training content as far as digitalization is concerned, the need to increase in-service training for teachers, continued efforts to reduce the gaps or disparities among teachers, and the digitalization of lessons and assessments.

Professor Nalova Lyonga concluded her keynote address with this strong statement “we are behind, we have to move fast to go ahead and catch up. This innovation in the 21^st Century is helping us to move ahead and reform our education. We have to reform our education”, and called for action.

JOSO Sophie, ARO2/CELCOM

The Inspector General of Education in the Ministry of Secondary Education, Jean Paul Marcellin Mebada led a team of MINESEC officials in the presence of the Divisional Delegate of Secondary Education for Mfoundi Division, on a working visit to evaluate the unfolding of the 2024 session of the BEPC and CAP examinations. This visit took place on Tuesday, 4 June 2024, and aimed to ensure the smooth administration of the examinations and monitor the compliance of schools to the regulations set forth by the Department in charge of Examinations and Certification of the Ministry of Secondary Education.

The schools visited were Government High School Cite Verte, Government Technical High School Yaounde II, and Al Haramain Private Islamic College. In each of the schools visited, the officials conducted a thorough evaluation of the facilities and resources, making sure the candidates were duly registered, noting the number of absent cases, inquiring the state of default candidates, inspecting the examination halls to ensure the sitting positions were respected and that they each had invigilators. They equally ensured that the document specifying the modalities for the payment of examination officials was put up in all the centres for transparency. They also enquired about the availability of the financial resources to facilitate the immediate payment of the staff involved in the exams.

Besides emphasizing on the unfolding of the examination, strict attention was guided towards the necessary security measures put in place and the sanitary conditions of the said centres. It was with immense satisfaction the officials found out that all schools in addition to their regular security agents had a minimum of two members of forces of law and order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of candidates throughout the examination period. As concerns the sanitary measures, the toilets of the three schools were visited and with utmost satisfaction, the officials found them clean, having running water and above all respecting the norms of gender; as both boys and girls had separate toilets.

Overall, the visit to the three schools in Yaounde provided a valuable insight into the administration of BEPC and CAP examinations, with the officials noting that the exams were being conducted in a fair and transparent manner as various centre heads took their responsibilities seriously.

JOSO Sophie, ARO2/CELCOM

KICK-OFF OF THE WRITTEN PHASE OF OFFICIAL EXAMINATION, 2024 SESSION

Competitive Entrance Examinations into the First year of Government Technical, Vocational and Agricultural Secondary Schools and the Concours d’Entrée en sixième into Secondary General Education

The Ministry of Secondary Education under the auspices of the Minister, Professor Nalova Lyonga, undertook an evaluation visit to Mefou and Akono division in the Centre region. The visit aimed to evaluate the unfolding of the competitive entrance examinations into the First year of Government Technical, Vocational and Agricultural Secondary Schools and the Concours d’Entrée en sixième into Government Secondary Schools, organized by the Ministry of Secondary Education and assess the conditions under which the exams were being conducted to ensure that all measures are taken to guarantee fair and transparent examination process.

 This visit to some host and marking centres of the said examinations took place on Tuesday, 14 May 2024. The team was led by the Inspector General of Education in the Ministry of Secondary Education, Professor Jean-Paul Marcellin Mebada, in the company of the Technical Advisers Number 1, 2, 3, the Director of Secondary General Education, the Sub-Director of Material, Liaison and Control, and the Sub-director in Charge of Organization of Exams.

During the visit, the team inspected the centres at GBTHS Mbankomo, GBHS Mbankomo and GBHS Mbalngong, where the Inspector General of Education in the Ministry of Secondary Education and the heads of the centres discussed the importance of maintaining the integrity of the exams and adhering to the guidelines set forth by the Ministry of Secondary Education. The Inspector General of Education in the Ministry of Secondary Education, emphasized the need for strict adherence to exam regulations and protocols, as well as the importance of maintaining a conducive and secured environment for the students taking the exams. To this effect, his team inspected each host centre, evaluating factors such as the number of candidates who registered, noting the absences recorded in each centre, verifying the status of default candidates and the measures taken to handle their situation, the seating arrangements of not more than fifty candidates per hall, ensuring that each hall had two invigilators: one from MINEDUB and the other from MINESEC, checking the necessary security measures put in place, the canteen and state of the toilets. They also observed the conduct of exams and interacted with teachers and students to get a sense of how the exams were being administered.

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Overall, the evaluation visit revealed that the host centres in Mefou and Akono division were well-prepared and organized for the exams. The Inspector General commended the efforts of the school authorities in ensuring a smooth and efficient exam process, and expressed confidence in the integrity of the exams being conducted. He however remarked that the canteens should always be kept clean and those selling snacks to students should be dressed in white jackets. In addition, he recommended that the authorities should not only focus on the hygiene of the toilets but should take into account the gender differences of their students. As a moral boost to the teachers, he reassured them that they were be paid for their duties at the end of the day anhd he equally reminded the centre heads to make sure the results are published within forty-eight hours.

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By

JOSO Sophie

ARO2/CELCOM

Professor Nalova Lyonga, Minister of Secondary Education, wants smooth and secure examinations for the credibility of our education system.

The Distance Education Centre of the Ministry of Secondary Education (MINESEC) played host to an important consultation meeting presided over by Professor Nalova Lyonga, Minister of Secondary Education, on Monday, 13 May 2024.

This was in the presence of Boniface Bayola, the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Secondary Education in charge of Teacher’s Training, Professor Fabien Nkot, the Secretary-General, Akat Etta Fidelis, the Inspector-General of Services, Jean Paul Marcelin Mebada, the Inspector-General of Education as well as directors of the central administration and ministry’s officials from the Regions. Officials from the GCE-Board and the Office du Baccalauréat du Cameroun were equally present.

The meeting which was extended to education partners, including representatives of officially recognised teachers’ trade unions and national education secretaries, mainly aimed at paving the way for a hitch-free and harmonious organisation of the 2024 official examinations session. The transfer of certain competences from MINESEC to the decentralized local authorities was equally a key point discussed during the meeting.

On this latter, participants concurred with the fact that all secondary education stakeholders concerned with the decree signed by the Head of Sate on 27 April 2023 to lay down conditions governing the exercise of some powers devolved by the State upon Regions in the area of secondary education, needed to enhance their appropriation of this presidential decree through capacity building so as to be aware of their respective roles and responsibilities. It was advised that decentralized local authorities at the regional level organise workshops on the appropriation of this decree by the Education Community.

Regarding the 2024 official examinations session, Professor Nalova Lyonga challenged all parties involved in official examinations to work for the credibility of our education system, beginning with the competitive entrance examinations into General and Technical Secondary Education, slated for 14 May 2024 nationwide. Issues such as leakage of papers, security in and around examination centres, timely payment of invigilators and examiners, availability of composition materials and the dressing code of some candidates were examined in-depth.

The Minister of Secondary Education instructed that no delays in payment should be recorded concerning the Concours d’Entrée en 6ème and the Entrance Examination into 1^st Year of Technical, Vocational and Agricultural Schools, because the money and the lists were available in each examination centre. The same situation should prevail in GCE and OBC Examinations, since the subventions were equally paid.

The leaders of the teachers’ trade unions thanked Professor Nalova Lyonga for her personal involvement in getting teachers’ issues solved and expressed appreciation for the Minister’s willingness to involve all education stakeholders in improving the Secondary Education sub-sector.

To this effect, the Minister of Secondary Education, Professor Nalova Lyonga instructed the Distance Education Team to select the best teachers in all the subjects to prepare candidates for official examinations through virtual revision sessions which shall run from Wednesday, 15 May to Monday, 10 June 2024, so as to improve and increase the success rate in Secondary Education.

Aimé Ngidjol, ARO 1/CELCOM

Victoria United Football Team (OPOPO- One People, One Power) proudly presents their trophy of MTN Elite One Football Championship to the Minister of Secondary Education.

Victoria United Football Team, winners of the highly anticipated MTN Elite One Football Championship 2024, presented their hard-earned and well-deserved trophy to the Minister of Secondary Education, Professor Nalova Lyonga, during a ceremony held on Tuesday, 23 April 2024, at the Distance Education Centre.

This ceremony took place in the company of the Minister in Charge of Special Duties at the Presidency of the Republic, Ghogomu Paul Mingo, the Governor of the Centre Region, Naseri Paul Bea, top rank officials of MINESEC and other Ministerial departments.

This trophy presentation ceremony was a moment of great pride and honour for both the football team and the Minister of Secondary Education who is renowned for her avid support of sports development among the youths of the country. Professor Nalova Lyonga expressed her admiration for Victoria United’s outstanding performance and exemplary sportsmanship, while commending them for their dedication and discipline.

The ceremony was a celebration of the team’s remarkable achievement, as well as an acknowledgement of the significant role that sports plays in enhancing national unity, promoting a healthy lifestyle, and nurturing young talents in the country.

The team captain and the team’s president, Valentine Nkwain, thanked the Minister of Secondary Education for her encouragement and unwavering support. They appreciated the Minister’s physical presence during the finals. This served as a moral booster which led OPOPO to the final victory.

The celebration continued with a series of photographs capturing the historic moment, as the players of Victoria United Football Team proudly presented the trophy to, and posed alongside Professor Nalova Lyonga, in the company of some Government officials. This part was briefly followed by a fund drive headed by the Minister of Secondary Education to support and encourage the team. The event ended with a common meal offered by the Minister of Secondary Education, Professor Nalova Lyonga.

Joso Sophie,ARO2/CELCOM

2024 OFFICIAL EXAMINATION SESSION

Practicals of Sports and Physical Education Kick-started Hitch-free Nationwide

The 2024 official examination session is officially on with the successful launching of Practicals of Sports and Physical Education in Baham.

On Monday, 22 April 2024, the Minister of Secondary Education, Prof Nalova Lyonga, and the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Prof Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, undertook a joint visit to Baham in the Hauts-Plateaux Division, alongside Awa Fonka Augustine, Governor of the West Region.

The aim of this joint visit was to supervise the launching and ensure the smooth running of the practicals of Sports and Physical Education Examinations for the 2024 official examination session.

Emphasizing the importance of Sports and Physical Education in the educational system, both Ministers stressed the government’s commitment to promoting a well-rounded education for the youth of our nation. They recognized the vital role that Sports and Physical Education play in the development of students, not only in terms of physical fitness but also in promoting discipline, teamwork, and character building.

This visit was first to the examination centre of Government Bilingual Technical High School Baham before proceeding to Government Bilingual High School Baham where both Ministers ensured that the practicals of the examination were conducted fairly, adhering to the rules and regulations governing the exams.

Professor Nalova Lyonga expressed her dissatisfaction with the Sports and Physical Education infrastructures found in the two examination centres visited, stating that, not only are these poor-quality sports infrastructures unsafe for candidates, but they also negatively affect candidates’ performances in Sports and Physical Education.

The Minister instructed the introduction of Sports and Physical Education infrastructures development and maintenance in the budgets of various schools as of the 2024/2025 academic year, so as to equip schools with adequate infrastructures which are conducive for sports practice and development of sports talents.

The strict observance of the hours reserved for the teaching and evaluation of Sports and Physical Education as well as the purchase of didactic materials for this discipline were highly emphasized by Secondary Education Minister during the visit.

Aimé Ngidjol

ARO1/CELCOM