Collaborative Resilience in Crisis: How a Cameroonian School Revolutionized Digital Learning

The school shutdown presented an unprecedented challenge, especially considering the educational hurdles in Cameroon’s North West and South West regions. But in Buea, the DELC Foundation and the Parents Mountain School (PMS) Board didn’t pause. We moved ahead. Our successful collaboration focused on maintaining educational continuity through remarkable agility and innovation.

The Low Tech, High Impact Pivot.
A key challenge of digital education is adapting it for young children, who may only have an
attention span of 1–5 minutes.
Standard Learning Management Systems (LMS) simply wouldn’t work.
The PMS Board and pedagogical team responded immediately;

• Agile Training: Teachers underwent rapid training on online communication tools during
  the holiday period.
• Low-Tech Innovation: The solution was brilliant and human centered. Instead of complex
  platforms, teachers used existing parent communication channels by sending photographs
  of notes accompanied by detailed, explanatory voice messages.

This combination provided the necessary context and personal connection, leading to positive parental engagement.

• Strategic Focus: The curriculum was streamlined. Primary Levels 1 & 2 focused on English and Mathematics, while senior levels (crucial for the First School Leaving Certificate) concentrated on five to six core subjects.

The Power of Operational Support and Connection.
The DELC Foundation provided essential operational support, ensuring consistent internet
access to facilitate this critical communication bridge between teachers and parents.
The true success, however, lay in the human element. Teachers became vital communicators,
offering continuous encouragement and reassurance. Children excitedly sending and receiving
voice messages from their teachers and peers underscored the power of technology when applied
with genuine care.
Where physical attendance was possible, DELC also utilized STEM blocks to introduce 2D and 3D concepts, actively strengthening teamwork and critical thinking skills.

This project is a powerful example of how innovation within existing infrastructure can overcome significant educational barriers during a crisis. The resilience of the PMS Board, the dedication of the teachers, and the engagement of the parents affirm the transformative role of collective effort and purposeful technology use. We remain committed to applying these invaluable lessons learned.

DELC | PMS