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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | The Absence of National Languages in Education and its Consequences: A Case Study of Cameroon |
Author: | Ngoufan Happi, Thierry |
Year: | 1996 |
Periodical: | Ufahamu |
Volume: | 24 |
Issue: | 1 |
Pages: | 98-109 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Cameroon |
Subjects: | language policy indigenous languages Education and Oral Traditions |
Abstract: | One immediate consequence of Cameroon's ethnic and linguistic diversity is the absence of Cameroonian languages in the educational system, as well as the lack of a national language spoken throughout the country, regardless of ethnic origin. Only a very few number of schools have Cameroonian languages in their educational programmes. Even in rural areas, academic programmes emphasize the study of French and English. This situation is the result of the absence of official support for the promotion of national languages, lack of financial means, lack of interest on the part of the general population, and technical and pedagogical barriers. The absence of Cameroonian languages in education has cultural, economic and political consequences. While many solutions to the problems posed by the absence of a common national language have been proposed since the mid-1970s, the government has so far done nothing to implement them. Pending a definitive solution, the author proposes that the newly created and widely spoken Cameroonian language 'Camfranglais' be officialized. Bibliogr., notes, ref. |