Politique

Public Administration: Bilingualism Practice Gaining Grounds

Par Aureline MELI (Intern)
26 janv. 2017 17:52
0 Likes

The National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism will enhance the practice.

At the level of policy implementation and service delivery in the public administration, the practice of bilingualism is gradually gaining grounds. Before the creation of National Commission for the Promotion and Bilingualism and Multiculturalism by President Paul Biya on January 23, 2017, Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang had given instructions to cabinet ministers that all documents must be in English and French which are Cameroon’s official languages enshrined in the constitution with equal status.
Sources at the Communication Unit of the Ministry of Justice said the practice of bilingualism is a reality in the ministry justifying that interventions of the Minister of State for Justice, Laurent Esso are published in the ministry’s website in the two official languages. The sources disclosed that documents produced are also in the two languages. Palpable example are copies of the English versions of the Penal Code, OHADA Law and its Uniform Acts, the Minister of State has of late been distributing to officials of the different strata of the judicial and higher education sectors. In many ceremonies organised by cabinet ministers and heads of different public institutions, speeches are usually written in French and English, as well as their delivery.
Users of services at the public administration and officials in charge of delivering the services, all attest to the giant strides in the practice of bilingualism. Jouda Edwige a teacher in Lycée Abondo seen at the Ministry of Public Service and Administrative Reform on January 25, 2017 said she neither feels frustrated nor faces language problems when she seeks services both in her ministry and other ministries. She disclosed that people from the different backgrounds of Cameroon’s official languages try to speak the languages as best as they can so that work can progress. Ella Ella Deborah, staff at the Department of Tourism Enterprises at the Ministry of Tourism and Leisure said that immediately after recruitment into the ministry, she rushed for English Language classes at the Pilot Linguistics Centre in order to arm herself for the job. With the training, she exchanges with visitors who understand mainly English and offer them the required services with ease.

Réactions:

Mme Ella Ella Déborah: « Je me suis inscrite au centre linguistique »

Agent d’État à la direction des Entreprises touristiques au Mintoul

« En tant que fonctionnaire, cette commission est la bienvenue. J’étais déjà préparée à pratiquer le bilinguisme, avant même que le chef de l’État signe le décret. Après mon recrutement à la Fonction publique, je me suis inscrite au Centre linguistique pour améliorer mon niveau en anglais. Conséquence, je n’ai jamais eu de problèmes quand j’ai affaire aux anglophones. Dans mon bureau, je reçois les usagers des deux langues sans souci. Et même, au centre linguistique, j’ai rencontré des fonctionnaires qui venaient apprendre l’anglais ».