South West : Practice Of Bilingualism Assessed

To monitor and evaluate the effective practice of English and French Languages was the mission of a delegation from Cameroon’s National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism to Buea, October, 17-21, 2022.
While in Buea, the Commission members headed by Benjamin Mutanga Itoe, flagged law number 2017/013 of 23 January, 2017 institutionalizing the CNPBM and its subsequent pilot law of 2019 on Official Languages to fit Section Three of the Cameroon Constitution instructing English and French as equal official languages for the country. The CNPBM mission members included Ngwane George Essambe and Angouing nee Ndanga Francoise.
While in Buea, the CNPBM addressed the South West Regional Assembly members, Local Council Mayors/Secretaries General, Administrative Authorities and Institutional heads. They underscored their responsibilities to include cross-checking the implementation of the equal status of English and French languages as a constitutional provision in all Public Services and organizations receiving State subsidies. They emphasized as one of their roles to submit opinions to the Head of State regarding the protection and promotion of bilingualism, multiculturalism and living together.
Observation on the ground still portrays shortages in the application of bilingualism. Mayors still testify a dearth of correspondences in bo...