Being a teacher in Cameroon often feels more like a means of survival than an exciting career with
opportunities for growth.
While doing some research for this blog post, I came across the Global report on teachers’ and some of
the key themes covered in this report were teacher shortages, the ongoing evolution of digital
technological advancements and more importantly, the report advocates for dignifying, diversifying, and
valorising the teaching profession.
Our profession would benefit from the emphasis which It puts on the need for improved working
conditions, enhanced professional development, and increased teacher involvement in decision-making.
Obviously, teachers themselves have a role to play in addressing some of these challenges and that is
why the Cameroon Teach2030 Ambassadors Tour was launched.
Our aim is to help break barriers and foster professional growth among teachers by introducing them to
the benefits of ongoing Teacher Professional Development (TPD). Through our shared experiences, we
hope that we can help them create opportunities for further personal and professional development.
We aim to reach 500 teachers across different schools.
Our efforts are guided by 4 main objectives
● Raise Awareness of Teach2030 and the work of the Commonwealth Education Trust
● To encourage registration and participation by encouraging teachers to become digital learners
● To foster a sense of community among teachers in Cameroon.
● To help improve learning outcomes and encourage innovative educational approaches
Planning and Execution
We made sure that we took time to plan our visits to maximize its impact and the first step was to have
a consultative meeting (on May 11th, 2024) where practical challenges were anticipated, required
resources identified, and roles distributed among the ambassadors. We had a further meeting with
Commonwealth Education Trust (CET) Team (on May 22nd) in order to make sure that we could also fully
anticipate the support we need. We held one last meeting at Dewey International School of Applied
Sciences with CET CEO Mrs. Betty Abeng. During this meeting we identified the best approach to
marketing activities. Once the information was made available on social media, our tour started
attracting significant interest from schools and educators.
The training Sessions held so far have been:
Green Field International School – Limbe
Date: Thursday, June 27th, 2024 Participants: 9 teachers, including school administrators Training
Focus: Growth Mindset – Part 1
Emmanuel Baptist Bilingual Nursery and Primary School (EBBNP) – Douala
Date: Thursday, July 4th, 2024 Participants: 6 teachers, including the Head Teacher Training Focus:
Growth Mindset – Part 1
Integrity Anglo-Saxon Nursery and Primary School – Douala
Date: Friday, July 19th, 2024 Participants: 23 teachers, including the Head Teacher and Proprietors
Training Focus: Growth Mindset – Part 1
Online Training Group: Teach2030 Trainees 2024 (TT24)
Due to the high interest from educators unable to attend in-person sessions, a WhatsApp group was
created to facilitate online training. This group includes 41 educators who have successfully completed
Part 1 of the Growth Mindset course. The training will conclude on August 3rd, 2024, with an optional
face-to-face gathering at Dewey International School.
The Experience
Starting earlier than expected due to school holidays, the training sessions saw a gradual increase in
interest. Post-training evaluations have helped improve subsequent sessions, enhancing our confidence
and content delivery. Challenges such as low internet connectivity and limited geographical reach have
been noted. Despite these, feedback from schools has been overwhelmingly positive, with many
requesting repeat visits and recommending the training to others.
Conclusion and Reflection
The Teach2030 Ambassador Tour has been well-received, with schools expressing interest in ongoing
partnerships for continuous professional development. The need to expand these trainings to more
schools is evident. With six more schools scheduled for visits starting August 16th, the tour aims to forge
more partnerships and extend its impact.
Acknowledgments
A heartfelt thank you to the Commonwealth Education Trust for their unwavering support in making
this initiative a success. And not forgetting the different school leaders; Mrs. Rose Ndula Yayu (Founder):
Integrity Anglo-Saxon Nursery and Primary School, Mrs. Ntuba Ekah (Founder): Green Field
International School – Limbe and Mr. Godlove Nkemntah (Head Teacher): Emmanuel Baptist Bilingual
Nursery and Primary School (EBBNP) – Douala for making sure their teachers are fully engaged.
Tacho Boris
Program Lead, Cameroon Teach2030 Ambassador Tour 2024
