Girls sit in a classroom preparing for a class in Cameroon. September 2022. Credit: UNICEF/UN0704362/Beguel

Partner since:

Total grant support: US$172,756,115

Grant eligibility:

  • Multiplier
  • Girls' Education Accelerator
  • System capacity
  • System transformation

Partnership compact

Priority: Improving the quality of learning through the professionalization of the teaching profession.

Other key documents

Coordinating agency: Plan International, UNICEF

GPE Team lead: Ludovic Signarbieux, Mafaizath Fatoke

Transforming education in Cameroon

The primary objective of the current plan, Document de Stratégie du Secteur de l’Éducation et de la Formation 2013-2020 is the achievement of quality universal primary education in Cameroon. This objective aligns with the national strategy for growth and employment goal of providing the production system with human capital capable of supporting economic growth.

Cameroon has made notable progress in recent years on some indicators, including increasing the textbook/learner ratio, recruiting and deploying new teachers and assessing learning outcomes. However, the education sector still faces many challenges particularly due to the many crises the country has faced in recent years.

The current education sector plan is focused on improving access and equity, quality and relevance, as well as governance and management of the education sector in Cameroon.

Result story

Cameroon: Turning pages, transforming lives

  • Limited availability of textbooks has been a longstanding challenge that has impacted student learning.
  • The government of Cameroon, with support from GPE and the World Bank, is making books more affordable and accessible for students.
  • Over 4 million children in Cameroon now have access to affordable textbooks. And the student-to-textbook ratio has improved from 12 students for every book in 2016, to three essential textbooks for every two students in 2023.

Key data

17%

out-of-school rate for children of lower-secondary school age

40%

of children start learning one year before entering primary school

82%

of primary teachers have the minimum required qualifications

19%

of government expenditure on education

Grants

(data as of November 17, 2024)

 
  • Type: System capacity

    Years: 2024 - 2026

    Allocation: US$401,221

    Utilization: US$39,777

    Grant agent: WB

  • Type: System capacity

    Years: 2022 - 2025

    Allocation: US$400,000

    Utilization: US$375,601

    Grant agent: WB

  • Type: Program implementation and Multiplier

    Years: 2021 - 2027

    Allocation: US$53,800,000

    Utilization: US$17,654,136

    Grant agent: WB

Civil society engagement

As part of its investment in civil society advocacy and social accountability efforts, GPE’s Education Out Loud fund is supporting the Cameroon Education For All Network (CEFAN) for the 2024-2026 period. This builds on previous support from the Civil Society Education Fund (CSEF).

Learn more

Latest blogs and news

May 24, 2024
Cameroon: Turning pages, transforming lives
In Cameroon, the limited availability of school textbooks has been a longstanding challenge that has severely impacted student learning. With support from GPE and the World Bank, the government is making books more...