• Cameroon, NetDragon to digitize 250 secondary schools via PADESCE
• Project includes smart screens, e-learning platform, teacher training
• Aims to boost youth employability, bridge the urban-rural digital divide

The Cameroonian government has partnered with Chinese technology firm NetDragon Websoft Holdings Limited to modernize its secondary education system. According to local press reports this week, the agreement is backed by the World Bank's Secondary Education and Skills Development Project (PADESCE).

The initial phase will equip 250 schools across the country with Promethean APLX 65" interactive screens, which feature integrated Android operating systems. The program also includes an online and offline learning platform and comprehensive teacher training.

"This partnership aims to reduce educational inequalities, empower teachers, and prepare our youth to succeed in a global knowledge-based economy," said Secondary Education Minister Nalova Lyonga.

According to the third survey on employment and the informal sector (EESI3, INS, 2022), only 36% of Cameroonians between the ages of 15 and 35 are employed, with 59% working in the informal economy. By providing digital skills to both teachers and students, the project seeks to boost employability and bridge the gap between urban and rural areas.

The Digital 2024 report from DataReportal indicates that only 43.9% of Cameroonians have internet access, with major regional disparities.

The initiative aligns with Cameroon's National Development Strategy 2020–2030 (NDS30), which identifies professional training and digitalization as key drivers of inclusive growth. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) estimates that digital transformation could create 230 million jobs in Africa by 2030.

The project's success will depend on effective equipment maintenance, teacher adoption of the new tools, and rigorous oversight. Other initiatives, such as the Francophone University Agency's (AUF) digital campus in Ngaoundéré and programs for young women, highlight the importance of nationwide digital inclusion.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou