Cameroon has ratified a US$30 million loan from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) to expand and improve its primary education system, officials said on Tuesday.
The agreement, signed into law by President Paul Biya on Jan. 26, 2026, stems from a loan deal concluded in October 2025 and forms part of the Basic Education Support Project (PAEBC), a broader programme to strengthen access to and quality of basic schooling across the country.
The BADEA financing roughly 18.08 billion CFA francs will support the construction and rehabilitation of school infrastructure, the provision of equipment to classrooms and facilities, and the enhancement of systemic capacity to meet rising demand driven by rapid population growth.
The PAEBC package exceeds 36 billion CFA francs in total financing, reflecting co-financing from partners including the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).
Cameroon’s education sector faces persistent challenges, including shortages of classrooms, limited pedagogical supervision and unequal access, particularly in rural areas. The new funding aims to ease demographic pressure on the school system and improve learning conditions nationwide.
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Authorities have signalled ambitions to further expand education investment, aligning with broader efforts to develop human capital and boost socioeconomic development, though financing constraints and implementation capacity remain key concerns for policymakers.
