page_title: Education in Cameroon
section_title: Higher education
hierarchical_section_title: Education in Cameroon / Higher education
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Les élèves et étudiants camerounais lors du défilé de la fête nationale du Cameroun le 20 mai 2019 à Douala This is an image with the theme "Africa on the Move or Transport" from: Cameroon
context_page_description: Cameroon is a Central African nation on the Gulf of Guinea. Bantu speakers were among the first groups to settle Cameroon, followed by the Muslim Fulani until German domination in 1884. After World War I, the French took over 80% of the area, and the British 20%. After World War II, self-government was granted, and in 1972, a unitary republic was formed out of East and West Cameroon. Until 1976 there were two separate education systems, French and English, which did not merge seamlessly. English is now considered the primary language of instruction. Local languages are generally not taught as there are too many, and choosing between them would raise further issues.
  Christian mission schools have played a significant role in educating children whose parents can afford them. But most cannot. Primary schooling has been free since 2000, but these are very basic, overcrowded, and parents must pay for all sundries. A 2004 government study found that elementary schools only had enough seats for 1.8 million students, with an attendance of 2.9 million. There are fewer girls than boys, mainly due to such things as early marriage, pregnancy, domestic chores, and traditional biases.
context_section_description: Although Cameroon boasts a sprawling cache of junior academic institutions of excellence, higher institutions are rather insufficient.  There are eight state-run universities in Buea, Bamenda, Douala, Dschang, Maroua and Ngaoundere and Yaounde I & II.  There is a handful of thriving private universities such as the Bamenda University of Science and Technology (BUST), International University Bamenda, Higher Institute For Professional Development And Training (HIPDET)Bamenda and the Fotso Victor University in the west province.
  The University of Buea, University of Yaounde I, and the University of Yaounde II are the only Anglo-Saxon style universities. The University of Bamenda which went operational in 2011 is  bilingual. The rest of Cameroon's universities are run on the francophonie model, although in principle, they are considered to be bilingual institutions. Cameroon's universities are strictly managed by the central government, with the pro-chancellors and rectors appointed by presidential decree. The minister of higher education is the chancellor of all Cameroon's state universities.
  Compared with neighbouring countries, Cameroon generally enjoys stable academic calendars. In all, Cameroon's higher education has been a success since independence, with thousands of its graduates mostly consumed by the national public service. Since the 1990s, with economic crises, a new trend has been for hundreds of university graduates leaving the country for greener pastures in Western countries. Since this graduates are going out looking for greener pastures or for studies, universities should implement some of those courses learned out there such as digital marketing so as to develop our country even before 2035 that has been spoken of. These students go out and apply their skills in countries that have been developed already, instead of staying home and making things better. The government is doing little or nothing to curb this brain drain.
  Nonetheless, an emerging number of private higher technical institutions of learning like the American Institute of Cameroon AIC, Nacho University, Maaron Business School, Fonab Polytechnic, and many others are beginning to reshape the predominantly general style of education that for over three decades has been the turf of most anglophone students in Cameroon.
  Eight Public Universities in Cameroon include:
  University of Bamenda
  University of Buea
  University of Douala
  University of Dschang
  University of Maroua
  University of Ngaoundere
  University of Yaounde I
  University of Yaounde II
  Other Universities in Cameroon include:
  St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Major Seminary (Bambui)
  The Information and Communication Technology University University (The ICT University) (Yaounde, Cameroon)
  Bamenda University of Science & Technology (Bambui)
  Catholic University of Cameroon, Bamenda (Bambui)
  Fomic Polytechnic, Buea (Buea, www.fomicgroup.cm)
  International University, Bamenda: website, facebook
  University Institute of the Diocese of Buea (two campuses)
  University of Maroua
  ST Monica The American University, Cameroon, Buea (Bulu Buea) smuedu.org
  American Institute of Cameroon, Ndop
  Catholic University of Central Africa (Yaounde)
  International Relations Institute of Cameroon
  Siantou and Ndi Samba Schools of Higher Learning (Yaounde)
  St Louis University Institute of Medical and Biomedical Sciences in Bamenda
  National Polytechnic Bambui
  St Jerome University Douala
  Institute Université de l'coté Douala
  Higher Institute For Professional Development And Training (HIPDET)
caption: Students at National Day parade 2019 in Douala
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