BY SA’AH SIONA IKEI
Jean-Paul Komon, President of CNAMSMD
The National Council for the Approval of Textbooks and Didactic Materials (CNAMSMD) has conducted a comprehensive review of workbooks and textbooks for primary schools, aiming to enhance the quality of basic education. During the council's 24th session, which focused on evaluating textbooks for the Ministry of Basic Education, Council President Jean-Paul Komon made an important announcement regarding the launch of this process.
At the conclusion of the session, Jean-Paul Komon shared his insights in an interview, stating, "We placed great emphasis on quality during our evaluation as our primary goal was to select excellent books. We received 11 proposals for the French sub-system and 15 for the English sub-system, and we are confident that we have chosen nothing but the best from the submissions."
Throughout the session, the council meticulously evaluated over 20 textbooks and workbooks with the intention of selecting new materials to be included in the official booklist for the upcoming 2024/2025 school year. The Ministry of Basic Education had specifically requested new materials for the subjects of French, English, and Mathematics through a call for tender issued earlier this year. Furthermore, two new textbooks were chosen for each of the two sub-systems of education.
Among the selected materials were two books for Sound and Word Building in both the English and French sub-systems, intended for classes one and two. Additionally, two handwriting textbooks for classes one and two in the French sub-system were also added.
Highlighting the significance of the newly selected books, President Jean-Paul Komon emphasized, "While these books may not bring about radical changes, they will play a crucial role in our educational system. We have observed that children are facing numerous difficulties in reading and comprehending texts. The inclusion of textbooks like Sound and Word Building, for example, can help address this issue."
Addressing concerns about book prices, President Komon assured, "During the evaluation process, all publishers who submitted books provided us with price information. For instance, if we can obtain textbooks priced at 1,800 FCFA, it means workbooks should be available for a maximum of 1,000 FCFA."
In addition to considering quality and affordability, the council prioritized the promotion of the domestic market. President Komon explained, "In line with the directive issued by the Prime Minister in December 2020, we were instructed to exclusively consider books printed in Cameroon. We wholeheartedly adhered to this directive during the session, which marks the initial step towards the industrialization of the book sector in Cameroon."
President Komon further highlighted that this entire endeavor aligns with the December 2021 law on the book sector, which was promulgated by President Paul Biya. The law aims to organize and promote the textbook industry, and the recently concluded book selection process is seen as the first milestone in this ambitious journey.
By Sa'ah Siona Ikei,
Creative Storyteller.
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