Is Education in Cameroon a Scam?

Every September in Cameroon, classrooms open, uniforms are ironed, and school bells ring again. But behind the excitement, more and more young people are asking hard questions:

• Is our curriculum outdated?

• Is school even worth it?

• Why do so many graduates remain jobless?

Some even call our educational system a SCAM. Can you really blame them, when smart graduates can’t find jobs while some of the richest employers never even finished school?

While I don't believe that our education system is a scam, I do think the real problem is that we have lost sight of WHY school exists in the first place.

The Missing WHY

The real problem cuts across all stakeholders, students, parents, teachers, private school owners, and even the government. Too many of us cannot clearly answer the “WHY” behind school. Let's break it down.

1. WHY do students go to school?

Most students go to school simply because their parents or society expect them to. For many, the goal is simply to pass exams and get good grades. Once that's done, they feel their job is complete.

Creativity, problem-solving and self-discovery are often ignored. This is why frustration is so common, because when the focus is only on getting certificates, the true purpose of learning is lost.

2. WHY do parents send their children to school?

In the past, finishing school almost guaranteed a job. Parents still hold onto this mindset, forcing their children to chase certificates in hopes of employment and for prestige. But today, times have changed. A certificate alone no longer guarantees success.

3. WHY do people become teachers?

For many, teaching is an escape from unemployment and poverty rather than a calling. Without passion and commitment, classrooms produce students who are merely trained to memorise and reproduce facts, rather than learning to think critically or innovate.

4. WHY do people open schools?

The sad truth is, many schools are businesses first. Private schools compete mainly on exam results. A 100% GCE success rate is seen as the ultimate sign of quality. But in truth, most of these schools prepare children to pass exams, not to think, not to create, not to solve real problems or prepare them for life.

5. WHY does the government create schools?

Mostly to tick boxes. To show literacy rates are improving, to satisfy the population, or to impress international bodies. Rarely do we see schools designed as part of a clear development strategy that connects education to Cameroon’s future needs.

Fixing the WHY

If we do not rethink the “why,” we will keep producing graduates who feel cheated by the very system that raised them. Each stakeholder has a role to play:

• Government: Schools must be linked to national development goals. If Cameroon needs engineers, agriculturalists, or digital innovators, then our schools should reflect that.

  Teacher training must also be reformed so that teaching attracts people who are passionate about nation-building, not just desperate for a salary.

• Teachers: Teachers should see teaching as a mission rather than just as a job. Teachers are nation-builders. If you teach without passion, you risk killing the dreams of children instead of inspiring them.

  Focus on inspiring students to think for themselves, rather than just memorising facts for exams. Help them to understand concepts and apply their knowledge to real-life situations.

• Parents: Stop sending children to school just for prestige or certificates. Guide them to discover their passions and career goals early. Please support them in their academic studies, as well as in developing their skills and personal growth. Help them to align their studies with their life purpose.

• Students: Remember that school is just the beginning, not the end. Passing exams and collecting certificates won’t guarantee success in life. Don’t just memorise and reproduce lectures. Learn to think, to question, and to create.

  Seek knowledge beyond the classroom through volunteering, mentorship, training programs, and self-study.

  By the time you reach secondary school, you should have a clear sense of direction. Let everything you learn bring you closer to achieving your career goals.

So, Is School a Scam?

School remains one of the most powerful tools for personal and national development. But its value lies not in the certificates we earn or the exams we pass. However, its value does not lie in the certificates we earn or the exams we pass. Its real value lies in developing our minds, broadening our thinking and preparing us to solve problems.

School should be the place where we discover our potential, develop our talents, and learn to work with others. It should prepare us not just for employment, but for life itself.

So before you ask if education in Cameroon is a scam, ask instead: Why are we sending our children to school? Why are we teaching? Why are we setting up schools? And why is the government investing in education?

The answers to these “why” questions will determine whether school continues to frustrate us or whether it finally becomes the key to Cameroon’s progress.

What will you do differently this school year?