Enseignement de l’unification du Cameroun et développement de la conscience historique nationale chez les élèves du CMII de l’école primaire de Melen à Yaoundé.

Abstract

This study entitled « Enseignement de l’unification du Cameroun et développement de la conscience historique nationale chez les élèves du CMII de l’école primaire de Melen à Yaoundé» (Teaching the unification of Cameroon and the development of national historical consciousness among CMII pupils of Melen primary school in Yaounde). It is a research on didactic contents in educational sciences, specifically in history didactics. At a time when the Competency-Based Approach is being implemented in Cameroon, the teaching and learning of history is gaining momentum. It is within this framework of a shift in paradigm that the school curricula of the discipline in question was revised. Thus, the new basic education curriculum is in line with the said shift in order to guarantee quality teaching/learning process that enables all pupils acquire the necessary skills to build knowledge, know-how and interpersonal skills with a view to developing life skills. Therefore, the objective of this research is to show the link between the teaching of the unification of Cameroon and the development of national historical awareness among CMII pupils. To achieve this, we focused first on the difficulties involved in developing skills such as national historical awareness among CMII pupils which formed the basis of our research problem. To tackle this problem, we formulated a main hypothesis: there is a significant link between the teaching of the unification of Cameroon and the development of national historical awareness among CMII pupils. After operationalising the variables of our study, we identified three research hypotheses, namely RH1: There is a link between the teaching of concepts and facts related to the unification of Cameroon and the development of national historical consciousness among CMII pupils. RH2: There is a link between the teaching of the benefits and limitations of the unification of Cameroon and the development of national historical consciousness among CMII pupils. RH3: There is a link between the teaching of the social and ethical values of the unification of Cameroon and the development of national historical consciousness among CMII pupils. To examine our topic, we used quantitative and qualitative correlational research; using a non-probability sampling technique and a reasoned choice approach for teachers. In order to collect the data, we used a questionnaire which was administered to all CMII pupils in Melen Primary School. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with the teachers of the said class to better explain the elements related to the teaching of the unification of Cameroon and the national historical consciousness. The data collected in the field was analysed, then interpreted. The results obtained enabled us confirm our research hypotheses, provide an affirmative answer to the research question and consequently confirm the main hypothesis. Finally, suggestions were made to teachers, as well as to political and educational authorities.