End of course certificates for basic education classes for the past five years have been released. The Minister of Basic Education Youssouf Hadidja Alim said at meeting for officials of the central and devolved services of the Ministry of Basic Education in Yaounde on Friday May 18. The objective of the meeting was to evaluate the activities of the 2011-2012 school year and plan monitoring of activities for the 2012 examinations. Speaking during the opening, the Minister of Basic Education, Yousouf Hadidja Alim called on participants to work hand-in-glove and come out with strategies to ensure a successful examination session. Yousouf Hadidja Alim used the occasion to announce that 767,446 certificates thus 439,804 for CEP, 202,982 for First School Leaving Certificate and 24,660 for CAPIEMP covering the 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 sessions have already been published and will be officially handed over in the days ahead. The different regional delegates gave presentations on the level of coverage of the activities of 2011-2012 and an evaluation of preparations for 2012 examination session.

Technical Education Training Centres Launched

A one-day workshop to launch the Project for the Construction of Technical Training Centres for Secondary Education (PEST) in the country took place in Yaounde on Friday May 18. Organised by the Ministry of Secondary Education in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank, the workshop brought together representatives of partner ministries, pedagogic inspectors and heads of schools. Closing the workshop, the Secretary of State for Secondary Education, Mounouna Foutsou said the launch of PEST constitutes a great moment for the development and growth of technical education in the country. The project which is jointly financed by the Islamic Development bank and the government of Cameroon cost FCFA 8 billion and has duration of three years. PEST is localised in two regions notably the

Centre and Far North regions. The schools concerned are "College d'Enseignement Technique Industriel de Nsam" and Government Technical High School Maroua.