Bridging the Digital Divide: How PMS Buea & DELC Foundation Are Revolutionizing Learning With (1 & 0’s)

From a Summer Spark to a Year-Round Educational Revolution

Back in 2022, a modest coding camp in Buea and lit a spark. DELC Foundation rolled out a holiday Scratch program to introduce primary school kids to programming. It was supposed to be a short-lived experiment but by day three, something incredible happened.

Kids were giggling as they combined code blocks to animate their French-language stories. Teachers were leaning in, curious and impressed. Parents were impressed: “My child can code?” That week, Scratch did more than teach logic it built confidence and curiosity.

And so, PMS Buea known for its holistic focus on character, community, and academic growth said: “Let’s not just do this one week. Let’s weave it into the very fabric of schooling.”

A Curriculum With Purpose: Tech, French, & Deep Thinking

What makes this partnership special isn’t just that kids learn to code it’s how they learn:

1. Scratch + French Storytelling
Students write short scripts in French about animals, village life, or family then bring them to life in Scratch animations. This isn’t just coding it’s language with purpose and visual creativity, building vocabulary and fluency in context.

2. Logic Puzzles to Spark Minds
Before a single computer turns on, students solve logic puzzles designed to sharpen their reasoning. They learn patterns, sequences, and problem-solving all without screens, reinforcing that coding is thinking, not just clicking.

3. Project-Based Collaboration
Kids work in teams, present their projects to peers, and give each other feedback. They learn to communicate ideas, respond to questions, and own their creations valuable soft skills beyond coding.

4. Teacher Empowerment Through Co-Teaching
DELC mentors don’t just show up they work alongside PMS teachers, modeling Scratch, lesson planning, and learner-centered facilitation. Over time, this shifts school culture from tech newcomers to co-creators.

Behind the Scenes: Scale, Inclusion & Resilience

This isn’t just anecdotal it’s real change:

• 100+ students across Grades 4–6 now get tech-enhanced learning every term.
• Over 50% are girls, an intentional effort to close gender gaps early.
• 12 digital literacy sessions per term weave into broader learning.
• 25+ creative French-Scratch animations bringing language and logic to life.

Even during internet blackouts, the program endures using offline Scratch versions, printed logic games, or storytelling circles. One teacher shared: “When the laptop died, students used pencils and paper to finish their animations. They created backup versions by hand!”

Real Challenges, Practical Solutions

Cameroon’s digital landscape isn’t perfect but they’re making it work:

Power & Connectivity Gaps
Research shows internet access sits around 44% nationwide, less in rural areas (camepi.org). Instead of halting lessons, the team equips teachers with offline modules and USB-loaded Scratch tools. Learning keeps flowing no Wi-Fi required.

Teacher Confidence Gaps
Learning code can be intimidating but co-teaching models mean teachers don’t go at it alone. Regular mentorship builds confidence, and within months, teachers are independently leading lessons and even presenting at local districts.

Curriculum Pressures
Schools are busy no one wants to add more. So DELC embeds tech into French and math: looping animations to teach multiplication, story-driven logic puzzles for grammar lessons. Rather than adding, they enhance.

Device Scarcity
With few devices (tablets), students share and collaborate. Group coding fosters communication while building peer support. Laptops | Tablets aren’t limiting; they’re community builders.

Evidence from Around Africa

Scratch isn’t just working here it’s working everywhere:

• In Morocco, 6th graders in rural Scratch programs showed significant growth in creativity and problem-solving (mecs-press.org).
• In South Africa, schools saw major improvements in computational thinking and collaboration once Scratch was integrated (caps123.co.za).
• Globally, Scratch Jr. helps younger learners develop fine motor skills and sequential reasoning through playful storytelling (niallmcnulty.com).

Cameroon is riding the same wave equipping learners for the future.

A Vision to Transform Education—Beyond One School

Here’s where this movement is heading:

• Expand to 3+ schools in Buea and Near by cities
• Launch math & science coding modules to amplify learning
• Host a Student Innovation Showcase to celebrate and share work
• Build an online Teacher Training Hub for nationwide impact
• Develop Offline Learning Kits for areas with no connectivity

This isn’t a program—it’s a blueprint for national transformation.

Why This Matters

• It prepares learners for a digital world where problem-solving wins
• It democratizes access—bridging urban–rural and gender divides
• It empowers students to create, not just consume, tech
• It instills early confidence and a mindset of possibility

“We’re not making coders; we’re nurturing thinkers and storytellers who believe they can build anything,” says a PMS teacher.

Join the Movement

If you care about education, equity, and innovation:

•  Leave a comment: how do you envision digital learning in your community?
•  Share this story—let’s inspire educators across Cameroon’s schools
•  Want to bring this to your school? Email us at info@delcfoundation.com