Do you want to pursue a career in teaching and become a professional teacher in Cameroon?
For one thing, teaching is the most honorable profession in the world. For centuries, teachers have molded top professionals in the fields of Law, Medicine, Engineering, Economics, and even the Arts and Statistics.
These professionals have spearheaded inventions and innovations that have changed our world forever. The world owes its development from the stone ages to our time to millions of great teachers who have impacted knowledge, inspired confidence, and touched lives.
In Cameroon – as in some parts of the developing countries, much premium is not placed on the teaching profession. However, if you want to stand out among other teachers and have a successful teaching career – at any level, you must become a professional teacher.
Professional teachers in Cameroon can rise to the peak of their careers and attract great opportunities that may be open to only teachers.
How to Become a Professional Teacher in Cameroon?
Earn a certificate in education.
Earning a certificate in education separates a professional teacher from just a teacher. These certifications could range from Teacher's Training Diploma to Ph.D. or even to becoming a professor of education.
The minimum teaching qualification in Cameroon is Teacher's Training Diploma. After a two-year course you can obtain a Teacher's Training Diploma from the College of Education. This qualifies a teacher in Cameroon for the first step of becoming a professional teacher. P
WithTeacher'sr's Training Diploma, a teacher, can be employed in the lower cadre of the teaching profession (nursery, primary, and in some cases, junior secondary levels of education).
Anothteacher'sr’s qualification in Cameroon is to obtainBachelor'sr’s Degree in education from a Cameroon university or elsewhere.
A first degree in education would usually take four years or thereabout in Cameroon, after which one could decide to further their education even up master'saster’s level.
The more your qualification in education, the better for you, especially if you want to take your teaching career further to become a lecturer in a higher institution.
With a first degree in education, you can be employed in both junior and senior secondary schools to teach your subject of specialization.
Earn a higher certificate in education
Like I mentioned earlier, if you want to become a professional teacher in Cameroon, it is imperative that you continue to develop yourself by getting more education certifications.
The higher your academic qualifications, the more opportunities for you to climb your professional ladder and get to the peak; attract other opportunities for other jobs and roles, and increase your income drastically.
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Get teaching practice and experience.
Becoming a professional teacher in Cameroon requires getting enough experience through teaching practice in the classroom, adding to whatever qualifications you might have bagged from the university.
Teaching is a largely practical profession. It requires experience, no matter how little. Interestingly, during your course of study in the college of education or durinbachelor'shelor’s degree and even up master'saster’s level, you will have some classroom experience during your teaching practice.
Teaching practice allows you to learn first-hand classroom control and management, how to put together lessons plans which meet established school and national curriculum models, manage the diverse ability levels of students, provide a safe, positive learning environment for students, adapt the curriculum to fit student needs while maintaining overall class progress, etc.
Now that you know, please never avoid your teaching practices classes, it will help you become a professional teacher.
Apply for Teaching Jobs in Cameroon
Even though most of the candidates who apply for a teaching job in a school hardly have the required qualification, you still have to stand out somehow apart from your qualifications.
A well-written CV that highlights your qualification and experiences is vital. Also, be creative in your job search. Send messages politely to school owners via LinkedIn and other professional platforms where potential employers visit.
Never hesitate to start your career smadoesn'tdoesn’t matter how you start; all that matters is your growth. Besides, if you are able to secure a teaching job even a secondary or primary school, it will afford you some funds to be able to apply for teaching roles in other opportunities and make progress.
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Seek new subject knowledge to share with your students
Take continuing education courses to keep yourself mentally stimulated. Your renewed enthusiasm for your subject will be rewarded by increased student interest and enthusiasm for the subject itself.
A true professional never stops learning. Also, make sure you keep abreast of education policy and legislation.
Be passionate, positive, and enthusiastic about your work
Professional teachers never act like it’s a chore to be in the classroom, even if it feels that way from time to time. Instead, they project positivity and enthusiasm for your students. This should be your attitude too.
If you need a positive boost, take some time each morning or between classes to remind yourself why you got into teaching and what you get out of it.
Project this positive enthusiasm beyond the classroom as well. For instance, a professional teacher will not create negativity in a staff room or engage in mindless gossip. That is highly unprofessional!
Learn to sharpen your computer and technology skills
Today, technology is disrupting how we do everything, and education and teaching are not an exception. The world is moving to a time when education will largely be done online with the guidance of the teachers and not the other way around.
So, if you want to remain a professional in your teaching career and remain competitively ahead of your peers, you must continue sharpening your computer and tech skills. Be in touch with the latest technology tools for teaching even if such is yet to be used in your local community.
Always go out of your way to being computer smart so you can remain relevant not just in your place of work but as a teacher. As time passes, it is only teachers who are also able to incorporate technology seamlessly into the classroom that employers would retain. So be on top of your tech game!
Attend professional development courses to gain new skills.
Professional teachers are constantly learning and sharing what they know. Learn about the latest pedagogical theories and practices, as well as the tools of the trade. Be open to trying new ideas to help your students learn and thrive.
Just as you learn from other teachers, they can learn from you. Share what you learn from your experiences and classes with other teachers, especially those on your team.
Below are some frequently asked questions about how to become a professional teacher in Cameroon that we have answered.
How can I become a professional teacher?
You can become a professional teacher by earning a certificate in education, getting teaching practice/experience, getting a teaching license, applying for teaching jobs, seeking new subject knowledge to share with your students, being passionate, positive, and enthusiastic about your work and learning to sharpen your computer and technology skills.
What is the teaching profession in Cameroon?
The teaching profession in Cameroon is when a person has the qualifications to inspire and motivate students to realize and exceed their potential. The most outstanding professional teachers of all time have devoted their lives to inspiring and empowering their students to achieve great things and be good human beings.
How much do Cameroonian teachers earn?
Some private primary schools pay as low as 40,000 XAF, while others pay up to 80,000 on average. Some private secondary schools pay as low as 70,000 XAF, while others pay up to 120,000 on average.
For beginners in government schools, it can be as high as 180,000 FCFA. Vice principals earn about 210,000 francs, while Principals earn about 230,000 FCFA with other allowances attached.
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