Evolution and Present State of the Islamic Private Educational Offer at Douala (Region of Cameroon’s Sea-shore): 1963-2008

Abstract

Against the background of the historical evolution and of the contemporary state of affairs, the present study describes the relationship between the State of Cameroon and the religion of Islam, with special reference to the teaching facilities in Duala and the way the Moslem community organised itself in order to grant to the Moslem families access to an education in accordance with the religious principles of Islam. The analysis touches topics such as: the goal and structure of the Moslem education; the offer of private religious education in Duala; its various difficulties; the children’s access to schools (case-studies regarding boys and girls); the curriculum; the financing and the place assigned to religion within the curriculum. The present study is founded on the analysis of the documents elaborated by the organizations which occupy an intermediary position between the Moslem community and the State of Cameroon, as well as on the interpretation of data collected from the persons in charge with the Moslem private education and our own field research. This investigation aims to reveal the dynamics of Moslem private education and the various difficulties it encountered in Duala, as well as to bring to the fore the answers formulated by the Moslem communities confronted with different challenges.