In practice, countries that were former British colonies often have higher English proficiency due to historical and systematic contact. Education was established during colonial rule in countries such as India, Singapore, and Nigeria.
However, this is not the case in all cases. Factors such as postcolonial governance, investment in education, and sociopolitical dynamics have a significant impact on language proficiency outcomes. In Cameroon, a combination of limited resources and a lack of support for English in post-independence policies led to a significant decline in language levels.
Although English is recognized as the main language, Cameroon’s foreign language proficiency is among the lowest in the world. Photo: Global Partnership for Education.
According to the website, Cameroon has a unique linguistic environment, with 273 local languages and two officially recognized languages (English and French). ethnologue. However, this central African country often ranks very low on the EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI). In 2023, Cameroon was ranked 113th out of 94 countries and territories surveyed, with a proficiency rating of “very low.”
Bilingual policy promotes unity and cohesion
Cameroon’s history of colonization began in the late 19th century when it came under German protection. After World War I, the territory was divided between Great Britain and France by order of the League of Nations. Britain ruled the northern and southern regions, and France controlled most of the territory. Colonial divisions laid the foundation for the linguistic divisions that emerged after the country gained independence.
The British colonial government focused primarily on resource development and management, and less on educational development in the English-speaking world.
While Francophone countries benefit from a more structured education system, Anglophone countries suffer from inadequate facilities and staffing problems. This disparity has had a lasting impact on English proficiency in Cameroon.
Colonial laws prioritized English and French, while indigenous languages were excluded from the education system and public spaces.
Cameroon gained independence in 1960 and unified with Southern Cameroon in 1961. The 1995 National Forum on Education was an important turning point in calling for the inclusion of the national language in the education system. This had a major influence on the drafting of the 1996 Constitution and the 1998 Education Act.
The constitution recognized linguistic diversity as part of national identity and committed to the protection and promotion of the national language. However, research by Bart van Pinksteren from the Center for Linguistics at Leiden University in the Netherlands shows that despite legal support, local languages remain optional in education and European languages continue to dominate. .
Cameroon’s bilingual policy faces many challenges. Photo: Jesuit Refugee Service.
Chínhphủ recently adopted an official bilingual policy to promote national unity and cohesion. However, implementation of this bilingual policy is inconsistent and faces significant challenges, leading to implementation failure.
implementation failure
Although Cameroon recognizes both English and French as official languages, in practice French is often the dominant language in education, government, and media. This imbalance has led to disparities in language proficiency, especially in English-speaking regions where resources and support for English language education are lacking.
The center of gravity of government often leans toward French, but this is largely due to the political dominance of French-speaking elites. This has led to significant disparities in resources and support for English language education and public services across the English-speaking world.
Schools here often lack qualified teachers, English textbooks, and teaching materials, resulting in poor academic performance. Furthermore, political tensions, particularly in the English-speaking world, have highlighted the frustration of English speakers with their marginalization and underrepresentation.
The Anglophone crisis, which began in 2016, surfaced as Anglophones felt marginalized by predominantly Francophone governments, news outlets said. Al Jazeera. Complaints include inadequate representation, lack of resources for teaching English, and indifference to cultural identity. Protests and demands for greater autonomy have led to violent clashes and ongoing conflict, further complicating the effectiveness of the country’s bilingual policy.
Furthermore, language fragmentation is also observed in the media environment in Cameroon. English-language newspapers and radio programs often have a harder time attracting attention and funding than French-language media.
“English teachers stutter when communicating with foreigners” I once witnessed a high school English teacher stutter and keep silent while talking to an American colleague. Note that this is not a special case.
