News / Info
# More impetus in the 2023 celebration of Bilingualism Week
Unlike in previous years, the 2023 National Bilingualism Week was observed this year with greater enthusiasm and involvement in some government ministries. In the past, it used to be solely an affair of school children.
MINESEC
In the Ministry of Secondary Education, which usually observes the week with special activities, there was a remarkable display of innovations this year. First, the Minister, Prof Nalova Lyonga, launched the week in Mbandjock, an outlying locality off the city centre of Yaounde. Second, hundreds of students came from all over Cameroon for the week. Third, there was a debate pitting the students from the different colleges on the practice of bilingualism, during which the young minds demonstrated their proficient skills in the use of both official languages. Fourth, there was a screening of a documentary sponsored by MINESEC on the adoption of English and French as our two official languages in Cameroon. Fifth, the minister gave an inspiring message to the student community.
She intimated that bilingualism is an instrument of development and that every Cameroonian should feel at home wherever they live, adding that this is made easier by use of our official languages.
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MINADER
At the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Minister Gabriel Mbairobe gave the event a big shot. Among other things, staff of MINADER staged several activities, including a sketch and documentary bringing to the fore the misunderstandings that sometimes surface between English and French speakers in Cameroon, and how the wall of misunderstandings could be broken down.
There was a display of how the practice of both official languages is being reinforced at MINADER under Minister Mbairobe's dispensation.
One peculiar twist at the event was the open recognition and rewards to staff of the ministry who showed a better ability in the use of both official languages in their work milieu.
Madam Agnes Tiki Mbappe represented the NCPBM at the event.
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MINEPAT
At MINEPAT, too, there were activities which emphasised the resolve of the ministry, headed by Minister Alamine Ousmane Mey, to see the use of both official languages thrive among its workers, in order to better serve the public.
The Bilingualism Week was organised there under the theme: "Stakes and challenges of equal bilingualism in the wake of the law of 24th December, 2019". The said law promotes the use of both official languages in Cameroon.
During the event, the minister recalled the many measures taken at his level towards encouraging staff members better practice bilingualism. He quoted the enrolment of staff at Pilot Linguistic Centres to upgrade their knowledge in both languages.
Another step is the introduction of a concept known as "Café Linguistic" or "Language Brunch". This instrument, he said, has promoted the practice of both official languages in the MINEPAT since 2018 when it was instituted there.