EDUCATION POLICIES, FUNDING, AND LOCAL CONFLICTS IN WUM DIVISION, NORTHWEST BRITISH SOUTHERN CAMEROONS (1952–1963)

This paper examines the conflicts arising from the introduction of education rating in 1952 in the North Western Federated Council of Wum Division, British Southern Cameroons. The initiative, implemented through education committees, aimed to enhance the quality of education from junior to senior primary levels and to produce skilled personnel for the colonial administration. Despite its objectives, the policy faced numerous challenges and was ultimately abandoned in 1963 by the West Cameroon state of the Federal Republic of Cameroon. Archival documents and selected published works on colonial and early post-independence education provide the primary data for this study. The findings indicate that while the policy was well-intentioned, designed to improve education financing and service delivery, its failure resulted from administrative, social, and structural obstacles. The paper highlights the complexities of educational reforms in colonial contexts and underscores the importance of addressing systemic challenges in policy implementation