Promotion of Bilingualism : New Law In Gestation

Members of parliament and senators have this week received a bill on the promotion of official languages – English and French - in Cameroon. Following house procedures, the parliamentarians will examine the bill and make necessary inputs, if need be, for its eventual adoption and subsequent promulgation into law.
According to an explanatory statement Cameroon Tribune obtained, the bill was drafted by government in accordance with Article 1(3) of the constitution which states: “The official languages of the Republic of Cameroon shall be English and French, both languages having the same status. The State shall guarantee the promotion of bilingualism throughout the country. It is coming as a manifestation of President Paul Biya’s desire to strengthen national integration, the bilingual and multicultural nature of the country.
Once it becomes law, the government will ensure that English and French are essentially used as working languages without distinction in public institutions. The government will also ha...