Bilingualism Commission gathers experience
The Commission’s president on December 10th, 2018 received in audience a Canadian delegation to tap from their rich experience.
Cynthia EFOPA
Created with the objective to promote bilingualism, multiculturalism and living together amongst Cameroonians, the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism which is a novel institution has not relent its efforts in gathering experience from other countries and institutions abroad that have taken a fore step into the handling of affairs in the domain. It is against this backdrop that the Chairperson of the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism, Peter Mafany Musonge, granted audience to a visiting Canadian delegation made up of the Director General for West and Central Africa at Global Affairs Canada, Jennifer Goosen and the Canadian High Commissioner to Cameroon, Nathalie O’Neil.
Being a bilingual country like Cameroon and partners in diverse domain, Canada wish to share its experience with Cameroon on how to build a sustainable and successful machinery at the regional divisional and sub divisional levels that will bring together all Cameroonians in savoring the spirit of oneness and unity through a refined bilingualism policy.
Speaking after the end of discussions with the chairperson of the Bilingualism Commission, the Canadian High Commissioner to Cameroon, Nathalie O’Neil declared that Canada has a rich experience in tackling issues related to bilingualism and multiculturalism and they are delighted to share the Canadian experiences on how they can work together so as to enrich that of Cameroon. The visit of the Canadian team is to have knowledge of the practices of bilingualism and multiculturalism in Cameroon and see ways it can be fostered through frank collaboration. The Canadian team will have to work with civil society organizations and government authorities to have a picture of what is on the ground.
For the last weeks, teams of the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism have been visiting state corporations and private institutions in Cameroon to access the rate of implementation of bilingualism in the daily management of affairs. A team led by Ama Tutu Muna was at the Special Council Support Fund for Mutual Assistance, known in its French acronym as FEICOM to ascertain the use of the both official languages in the institution. They visited different services and paid attention to the degree of usage of English and French in the internal and external communication notices used by the institution, identify shortcomings and their causes. The recommendations are intended to enhance a sustainable practice of the country’s linguistic values.
