COOPERATION: MINESEC, JAPAN, UNESCO-IICBA

JAPAN, UNESCO-IICBA BOOST DIGITAL EDUCATION DRIVE IN MINESEC

The Ministry of Secondary Education received a significant push in its digital drive with the reception of a significant donation of Information Technology equipment to Teacher Training Colleges.

The official handing over ceremony chaired by Professor Nalova Lyonga, took place at the Distance Learning Centre in Yaounde on the 22 May2026. In attendance were: the representative of the Ambassador of Japan to Cameroon, the Director of UNESCO Regional Office, the Director of UNESCO-IICBA,  Cameroon’s Minister Delegate to the Minister of External Relations, Felix Mbayu, the Secretary of State to the Minister of Secondary education in charge of Teacher’s Training, Boniface Bayaola, the Secretary General of MINESEC, Professor Fabien Nkot,  and other top officials of MINESEC.

The donation included eight different categories of IT equipment ( 9 laptops, 48 Desktop Computers, 8 LCD Projectors, 8 Smart boards for teaching, 8 Multi-functional Printers, 8 Backup Hard Drives, 8 PC Servers and Central Hub, and 2 Solar Backup Systems) aimed at strengthening Teacher Training and improving access to digital learning resources in the beneficiary institutions.

In his opening speech, the Director of UNESCO Regional Office highlighted education as a major priority and went further to appreciate Cameroon government’s strategies and initiatives to ameliorate its education system through pedagogic reforms and digitalization amongst others.

As the funding nation of this initiative, the representative of Japan’s Ambassador stated that the initiative is to reinforce teachers’ capacity while ensuring secured learning spaces, which promotes smooth learning.

The Minister of Secondary Education sees this as a “global priority that will improve digital technology in Cameroon that will promote equal access for youths, strengthen the use of ICT tools by our youths”.

While appreciating the Japanese government, Minister Nalova Lyonga further appealed to both the Japanese government and UNESCO-IICBA to continue to support MINESEC in building and equipping workshops amongst other in order to improve access to quality education.

She further emphasized the concept of “Science for production”, the ideology of enabling learners to be able to create jobs and become self-employed. To the beneficiaries, she stated, “When we choose AI, you are not choosing the loss of your job and that the fear of Artificial Technology should not keep us in the back”.

The initiative is a timely intervention that will help bridge the digital gap and prepare future educators for the demands of a rapidly evolving world.

By

JOSO Sophie

ARO2/CELCOM

ACCELERATION OF DIGITALIZATION IN MINESEC

INAUGURATION OF AN INTELLIGENT CLASSROOM AT LYCÉE GÉNÉRAL LECLERC

In a landmark moment signalling Cameroon's bold stride into the future of education, the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Joseph Dion Ngute, officially inaugurated a state-of-the-art Intelligent Classroom on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at Lycée Général Leclerc in Yaoundé, describing the event as ''a significant contribution towards digitalizing education.''

 The Prime Minister presented the project as particularly timely ‘‘as it helps bridge the digital divide between urban and rural areas by enabling students in remote areas to benefit from digital lessons without the need for an internet connection or expensive electrical installations.’’

Far more than a ribbon-cutting ceremony, this inauguration is the living, breathing proof of what strategic international collaboration can yield. The Intelligent Classroom stands as the crown jewel of a fruitful and trailblazing partnership between the Ministry of Secondary Education (MINESEC) on one side, the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC) chaired Lord Johnathan Peter Marland, and Promethean on the other.

Lauding the synergy between MINESEC and its international partners and acknowledging their contribution to the acceleration of digitalization in MINESEC, Professor Nalova Lyonga celebrated the AI-driven educational revolution in Cameroon and the leap from standard multimedia resource centres to "Intelligent Classrooms. After the Centre and Southwest regions, the Government plans to expand these 'Intelligent Classrooms' to the Northwest and East regions next, and then nationwid

 In a powerful endorsement of Cameroon’s educational trajectory, Dr. Simon Leung, President of Promethean, believes the 'Intelligent Classroom' will create a conducive environment where students can be more interactive, more curious, and more engaged in their own learning. He described the structure as ‘‘light, modern, inspiring, designed to match global standards; more importantly, designed to be replicated wherever there is a need... This unit is equipped with 60 solar panels, battery storage, independent water supply, separate sanitation facilities, and also the capacity and capability to operate fully off-grid.’’

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The ceremony was graced by the presence of Members of Government, including the Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education, Professor Fame Ndongo, the Minister of Basic Education, Professor Laurent Serge Etoundi Ngoa, Members of Parliament and actors of the educational community.

 The inauguration concretely materializes MINESEC's unwavering commitment to digitalization and to building a robust, far-reaching distance education system.

ABILAMEKOU BADJEL THEODORE

SENIOR OFFICIAL/CELCOM

NATIONAL WEEK OF BILINGUALISM 2026

The 21st Edition of the National Week of Bilingualism has been officially launched in Edea, Monday, 2 February 2026.

This major national event taking place under the theme Artificial Intelligence at the Service of Bilingualism was presided over by Prof. Nalova Lyonga, Minister of Secondary Education, alongside the Governor of the Littoral Region, Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua, the Secretary of State in the MINESEC in charge of Teacher's training, Bayaola Boniface, the Secretary General of MINESEC, Prof Fabien Nkot amongst other top ranking officials of the Ministry of Secondary Education, and other local dignitaries.

The opening ceremony featured several key speeches, starting with a warm welcome from the Mayor of the Edea city council Dr Nlend Albert Emmanuel, who highlighted bilingualism as a unifying force within Cameroon’s diverse society. The Regional Delegate of Secondary Education for the Littoral Region, Mme EBOA Thamar on her part, praised the progress in bilingual education while calling for continued improvements in language instruction, emphasising the role of technology in enhancing Cameroon’s bilingual education and communication.

A series of artistic performances by local students captivated the audience. Skits, poems, and debates demonstrated their bilingual skills and understanding of the theme, showcasing how technology can help bridge language gaps and enhance learning. Students passionately discussed the opportunities AI offers, such as personalized language learning, improved translation tools, and the preservation of indigenous languages.

The event culminated with an inspiring speech from the Minister of Secondary Education as she stated that “We are actually entering into a post COVID period which has made technology go one step ahead as far as education is concerned. Don’t be afraid of Artificial Intelligence but use it to fortify you in whatever profession you are trying to do. Scientists have been able to bring up new tools and we who are teachers have to learn how to use these tools.”

She ended by reaffirming government’s commitment to strengthening bilingualism, emphasizing the importance of integrating AI to improve educational access and ensure linguistic equality. The Minister’s address reinforced the vision of a future where technological innovations will play a crucial role in advancing bilingualism in Cameroon.

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