The Ministry of Secondary Education (Minesec) has introduced a new subject, Cinematographic Arts, into the curriculum for the second cycle of secondary education.
Four public schools across Cameroon have been selected to pilot the program: Government Bilingual High School Molyko, Buea; Government Bilingual High School Ebolowa; Lycée Leclerc in Yaoundé; and the Classical and Scientific High Schools in Bertoua and Maroua.
Minesec’s head, Prof. Nalova Lyonga, announced the initiative during while launching the 2024/2025 school year at Government Bilingual Technical High School Nsam, Yaoundé.
While she provided limited details about the new subject, the Minister emphasized the need for discipline among students and teachers and strict respect of regulations guiding secondary school textbooks.
“We will strictly enforce punishments. Anyone not adhering to the state’s laws should be penalized. There is no justification for having more textbooks than what is recommended,” she said.
Prof. Nalova Lyonga also addressed poor student performance in this year’s Baccalaureate exams, identifying indiscipline, drug abuse, and violence as the primary factors.
“Let me highlight three major issues: student indiscipline—although it’s not only students but also teachers. Inspectors and others know this was a problem last year. We also have drug consumption and, of course, violence. These ills must be addressed through punishment, not corporal punishment,” the Minister said.
The new school year is set to begin on Monday, September 9, after a three-month Summer Holiday.
